A muffled groan escaped Tang Hao's throat, and the clothing covering his chest slipped away.
Xiao Wu hurried to support him.
"Uncle Tang?"
Tang Hao did not open his eyes. His breathing was weaker than before, each breath pausing for several heartbeats before the next.
Tang San stopped cultivating and reached for his father's wrist.
"Why is his pulse fading again?"
"It was there just a moment ago."
"Move. Let me check his Heart Meridian."
Tang San laid Tang Hao flat on the ground and pressed his Mysterious Jade Hand against several acupoints on his chest.
When he touched the area over his heart, Tang Hao's body twitched, and the color continued to drain from his face.
"Dad, can you hear me?"
No answer came in the cave.
Xiao Wu picked up the waterskin.
"Give him some water first."
"Don't pour it in. His breathing is too weak. The water could go into his lungs."
"Then what do we do?"
Tang San circulated the Mysterious Heaven Skill again. The inner force he had just recovered amounted to less than twenty percent of his full strength.
"Keep protecting his Heart Meridian."
"You're going to give him more inner force?"
"Should I watch my father's life slip away instead?"
"You nearly damaged your own meridians just now!"
"I rushed it. I'll go slower this time."
Xiao Wu caught his hand.
"Uncle Tang's body can't hold your inner force at all. No matter how much you give him, it'll disappear."
"Then I'll give it to him anyway."
"Brother!"
"Let go."
Tang San pushed Xiao Wu aside and pressed his palm to Tang Hao's chest.
Mysterious Heaven Skill Inner Force entered his meridians once more.
The Dark Red Spores waiting outside the Heart Meridian immediately sent out fine roots, drawing the incoming power toward