Meng Xinghe fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice.
"Because Brother Li refused to settle for mediocrity."
"With his Golden Core shattered and his martial techniques unusable, he understood his situation better than anyone."
"If he didn't stake everything on one last attempt, this would be as far as he ever went."
Gu Moxie said nothing.
He merely murmured silently to himself.
Brother Li, you have to hold on.
Time slipped by, and half a month had passed.
Gu Moxie and Meng Xinghe kept watch in the bamboo cottage every day. Apart from occasionally practicing martial techniques in the courtyard, they spent all their time sitting beside the bamboo bed.
Wen Qinglian visited twice during that time, transferring a strand of spirit force to Li Bufan on each occasion to stabilize his internal injuries.
On her third visit, she carefully examined Li Bufan's dantian, and at last, her brow relaxed a little.
"He's almost there."
"He should wake up in a few more days."
Sure enough, two days later.
Li Bufan's fingers twitched slightly.
Gu Moxie was drowning his sorrows at the table when he caught that slight movement out of the corner of his eye. The wine bowl in his hand nearly fell to the floor.
He rushed to the bamboo bed in a few quick strides and looked down.
Li Bufan's eyelids fluttered a few times before slowly opening.
He saw the familiar bamboo ceiling, along with Gu Moxie's face hovering extremely close to his own.
"Brother Li, you're finally awake!"
Gu Moxie's voice brimmed with irrepressible delight.
"You were unconscious for a full half month!"
Li Bufan blinked, his vision gradually coming into focus.
"I've... put you to a great deal of trouble these past days, Brother Gu."
Gu Moxie waved a hand.