Vogue smiled warmly when he saw the genuine look of concern on her face.
She truly was a rare beauty, both inside and out!
By the time she finished bandaging his wounds, she was sweating slightly.
Vogue gently cleaned her forehead with the sleeve of his shirt and stared deeply into her eyes. "Thank you so much, Gloria."
"Y-You… I-it's nurse Gloria to you." she stammered, clearly flustered. Nurse Gloria couldn't stand the intense way Vogue was looking at her. She shyly removed her gaze and turned her head to stare in a random direction, anywhere but at his face.
Vogue smiled at her reaction and extended the flower pot to her. "I got this for you on my way. "
"Wah! A Mutated Lily? I thought they were said to be expensive!" She grabbed the flower pot with both hands and extended her slender finger at the petal.
The flower immediately recoiled slightly. But after a few seconds, the flower extended its petals and softly touched her finger.
Nurse Gloria giggled cutely. "You bought the shy one. I love it."
She was so happy that she impulsively kissed Vogue on the cheek. But Vogue was quick to react. He immediately turned his head at just the right moment so their lips touched directly instead.
Without hesitation, he immediately sucked and smooched her lips.
Nurse Gloria's eyes widened and she froze as Vogue assaulted her lips. Then the sensation hit her like a storm as her eyes involuntarily closed and she let out a slight moan.
Vogue felt his heart skip a beat and he was about to grab her when Nurse Gloria seen to come to her senses.
"Pervert! You tricked me!"
She glared at him with flushed cheeks, grabbed the flowerpot protectively against her chest, and ran away from the medical room like a startled cute mouse escaping from a cat.
Vogue laughed as he watched her cute exit. Life like this was truly beautiful.
———-
Vogue returned to his apartment building by almost dawn the next morning. As he approached, he saw quite a few residents gathered outside in the hallway near their rooms, talking in hushed voices. His eyes squinted with suspicion and he immediately knew it must have something to do with the missing landlady. But wasn't it way too early for people to notice she was gone? It had barely been a full day.
He didn't speak with anyone and continued to his room.
"It's really strange that she's not banging on our doors disturbing us for rent money like usual. Do you think maybe she's actually dead?" one tenant whispered to another.
"Nah, wicked people like her don't die early. She won't die until she milks every last credit from us, literally and sexually," another man replied with a bitter laugh. The two guys talking visibly shivered when they remembered their own horrible personal experiences with the predatory landlady.
Vogue raised his eyebrow and was about to enter his room when he heard something.
"Hey, kid! She was at your place last night. I heard her yelling at you." An old lady suddenly spoke.
Vogue recognized the old lady as the one living in the apartment right next to his. Honestly, he had always thought she was far too old and senile to see or hear anything clearly anymore. But now it seemed that assumption was completely wrong. Her hearing and memory were apparently still sharp.
The voices of people discussing amongst themselves in the hallway suddenly stopped abruptly. All eyes turned to stare at Vogue with curiosity and some suspicion. Even those residents who lived on the floor above leaned over the railing and craned their necks to look down at him curiously, waiting to hear what he would say.
Vogue kept his face completely neutral and shrugged casually. "Yeah, she came by to collect her rent money like always. When I told her I didn't have enough to pay, she yelled her throat off at me for being useless and lazy. Then she left in a huff to bother someone else. That's all that happened."
Vogue replied casually and entered his room without waiting for any further response.
Outside, the neighbors discussed with each other. "Don't tell me the old fatso is also bullying the kid."
One of the guys spoke in a low but horrified tone.
"For a teenager, it would have been a fantasy come true if only she wasn't so…"
——————-
Vogue entered his apartment and locked the door properly. His clones were still cultivating. Vogue let them be and checked the amour of Pain Points he gained.
[Pain Points: 456]
It was even less than yesterday's but it was a decent daily haul. He sighed. If only he could hire someone to cut off his limbs every time, then that would be wonderful.
But then he would have to reveal his regeneration ability which might make things even more complicated.
In the world who can one really trust? Everyone is dong what they can to survive and if it's to stab your fitness in the back to survive, many would do that without hesitation. He knew he could no afford to be too trusting. Moreover, if no one knows, then it's truly is a secret.
Dropping his bag to the ground, Vogue made a mental command and the three clones stopped cultivating and opened their eyes.
Vogue merged with them and saw his cell evolution increased from 82% to 91%. There was one percent decrease this time, making Vogue frown. Was his body getting used to the cultivation method.
His frown was washed away as he felt the increase in the toughness of his skin. His flesh actually started hardening and when Vogue touched his body, it felt as though he was touch hard premium leather.
Moreover, he looked even more handsome as his skin turned fresh. It seems evolving the flesh cells truly does wonders to one's beauty.
He could tell his muscles harden and becoming elastic. Moreover, his hand to mind coordination became impeccable. Anything he willed his mind to do, his body was able to perfect it without rationalizing its impossibility.
Vogue repeated his daily routine. Woke up at dusk, bath, eat, cultivate, get dressed and then head to Titan Training Hall.
At one point, Vogue actually managed to beat Claire black and blue due to his upgraded strength and physique.
However, Claire got excited and a little carried away. She started to reveal her family's simplified Earth-Grade martial arts. Then it was Vogue's turn to be in the receiving end when she activated Roaring Winter Fist, Icy Wind Step and Snowman's Rage at the same time.
By the end of the day, his chest caved in, his heart punctured with rib bones and his kidney, liver and lungs collapsed. His thigh bones broke in half and even his skull shattered.