Chengping Ward, Jishi Medical Hall, rear courtyard.
In a simply furnished but clean room, sunlight filtered through the paper-covered window, casting a patch of dim yellow light across the floor.
Lin Yue lay on the bed, staring at the canopy embroidered with trailing lotus vines above him. Every bone in his body seemed to ache with a weak, weary soreness.
For the past month, he had spent almost all his time within the narrow confines of this bed. His days were as dull as a pool of stagnant water, tormenting him until he felt death would be preferable.
When had he ever suffered such indignity before?
After finishing his daily training at the Martial Arts Hall, he had always had friends inviting him out, either to trade toasts at the Jufou Restaurant or to enjoy songs and dances at the Listening Wind Pavilion. His social life had never lacked bustle and excitement.
Now, however, he had to be careful even when rolling over. The slightest exertion sent a tearing pain through his chest.
The ribs Li Mengchao had broken had yet to heal.
Just yesterday, Zhang Tong, the master of the Jishi Medical Hall, had said he would need at least another half month of rest before he could try getting out of bed and walking slowly. Recovering enough to practice martial arts would likely take six months.
At the thought, Lin Yue's gaze abruptly turned venomous, his teeth grinding audibly. His hatred for Li Mengchao grew wildly in his heart like poisonous vines.
If not for that bastard who threw his weight around on the strength of his lineage, how could I have ended up like this?
But he also knew that the Li Family was one of Yuhe County's Six Great Families. They had been entrenched here for