Mrs. Wei had been slashed with a knife during their breakout, a deep wound across her lower back.
Though she had been treated with antiseptic medicine afterward, due to a lack of timely medical attention and care, by the time Ma Gu found this cave, she had already fallen into unconsciousness.
"Similar to what happened to me initially?"
Young Master Wei thought of the injury he had received before and felt a twinge of pain in his stomach.
Fear grew in his heart, "Ma Gu, my mother couldn't possibly die, could she?"
Ma Gu remained silent.
Based on the current situation, it was hard to say.
Mrs. Wei's injury, while not as severe as Young Master Wei's had been,
likewise, her constitution was also not as strong as her son's.
Seeing his silence, Young Master Wei's panic intensified, "No, I can't let my mother die! Ma Gu, you must think of something!"
Ma Gu's irritation rose at the sight of Young Master Wei, panicked and screaming.
Ma Gu grabbed Young Master Wei by the neck and pinned him against the cave wall.
He growled, "Will your yelling wake your mother up, or will it bring enemies here and get us all killed?"
Young Master Wei's eyes widened in shock, seemingly unable to believe that Ma Gu would dare treat him this way.
As his breathing grew more labored, he realized Ma Gu was not joking, a sudden fear arising as he started to struggle.
Unmoved, Ma Gu stared into his eyes, "If you want me to let you go, fine, but you have to promise to stop yelling. Otherwise, do you believe I would cut you down?"
Young Master Wei, his vision darkening, hastily nodded his head in agreement.
Seeing his face begin to turn purple, and his breathing about to cease, Ma Gu finally let go.
Watching Young Master Wei fall to the ground, coughing, for some reason, a sense of satisfaction rose in Ma Gu.
Every time he encountered this fellow, trouble ensued; to claim he held no resentment would be a lie.
In the past, he would have never dared to roughhandle the young master.
But now, with Martial Arts experts scouring the land in pursuit, they could be discovered at any moment.
Under such precarious circumstances, Ma Gu found his courage had grown, and he was naturally less obliging to the heedless young master.
"Young master, you're not that young anymore. Please, stop being so childish and think about how to survive in these mountains. The Silver Moon Guards have risked their lives so you and Mrs. Wei can live. Does your current behavior honor their sacrifice?
"Tomorrow, I'll go out again to see if I can find some herbs to reduce Mrs. Wei's fever. Reflect on this."
After leaving a few words of advice, Ma Gu took the rabbit outside the cave and began to skin and prepare it.
Leaving Young Master Wei behind, who stood there, dazed, apparently lost in thought.
Before long, Ma Gu brought some meat inside on a large leaf and offered it to him.
"What is this?" Young Master Wei looked at the pink slices of meat.
"Rabbit meat, it's fresh."
"This meat is raw. How can I eat it?" Young Master Wei said incredulously.
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"What, would you rather start a fire and roast it? Do you believe the moment we light it up, someone will come and surround us, taking your mother away?" Ma Gu replied with a cold laugh.
"But I can't stomach it," Young Master Wei said, looking at the meat with fear.
"Whether you can stomach it or not, you have to eat. You haven't eaten in two days, and without replenishing your strength, you'll struggle even to walk. Carrying Mrs. Wei is already taxing enough; I can't carry you as well. Unless you want me to abandon your mother?" Ma Gu said coldly.
Hearing this, Young Master Wei struggled internally.
Eventually, he reached out, took a slice of rabbit meat, and swallowed it with his eyes closed.