639: Chapter 628: Can’t It Be Restored?
639: Chapter 628: Can’t It Be Restored?
When she saw Ning Fan in that terrible state this morning, Xu Ruolan was terribly worried.
Although she didn’t show it on her face and remained calm, she definitely wasn’t as relaxed as Xu Xiaoqing.
When asked by Xu Ruolan whether his body’s condition was due to the Genetic Potion, Ning Fan decisively shook his head.
“It’s not because of the Genetic Potion; it’s just a little mishap during cultivation.
I just need some rest, and I’ll be fine.
Look, aren’t I still alive and kicking?”
Ning Fan said with a feigned ease, as if to assure Xu Ruolan that he was fine now, but the truth was known only to him.
He was far from fine right now; his meridians were completely severed, and his Martial Prowess was lost.
He wasn’t clear whether he had achieved the effect of the Wash Marrow Cleanse Tendons.
He could not perceive anything inside his body and couldn’t use any True Qi at all—it was as if True Qi didn’t exist for him.
Honestly speaking, Ning Fan’s mood was terrible at this moment.
If it weren’t for Xu Ruolan and the still-sleeping Xu Xiaoqing being there, he didn’t know if he would have collapsed given the drastic changes.
Whether this attempt had failed or not, Ning Fan wasn’t sure, but what he could tell Xu Ruolan to ease her worries was that his current condition was not caused by the Genetic Potion.
“Cultivation, what dangerous Martial Arts are you practicing?” Xu Ruolan frowned deeply, a reproachful expression on her cold and beautiful face, and her lovely eyes also shimmered with worry.
Ning Fan sighed bitterly; he couldn’t possibly tell Xu Ruolan that in order to speed up his cultivation, he had purposely severed his own meridians.
That would only lead to a round of questioning and even more worry on her part.
“By the way, aren’t you going to the company?”
Previously, it had always been the little girl taking care of him, and Ning Fan had thought Xu Ruolan had gone to the company.
Little did he expect that Xu Ruolan was still at home.
Xu Ruolan, looking at Ning Fan without an immediate reply, ignited with anger in her eyes, and after a while, she replied somewhat angrily, “Isn’t it because of you?”
Ning Fan sensed the anger in Xu Ruolan’s tone, but he couldn’t get angry himself; Xu Ruolan wasn’t mad about him being in a condition that prevented her from going to the company.
Xu Ruolan was angry because she was worried about Ning Fan.
Going or not going to the company wasn’t important; what mattered was Ning Fan’s current physical condition.
She could feel that Ning Fan was forcing a smile at this moment, pretending to be calm for her, but she knew that behind that placid face, he was definitely hiding something from her.
But Xu Ruolan was unable to make Ning Fan speak, and this left her feeling very frustrated and angry.
“You always take on these burdens alone; can’t you let someone else help?” Xu Ruolan’s voice was somewhat low.
Ning Fan looked at Xu Ruolan with a tinge of guilt, and then a defiant expression crept onto his face, “Because I am a man!”
As a man, Ning Fan didn’t want to involve Xu Ruolan in these dangerous affairs.
As for all manner of demons and monsters, he could handle them by himself; he didn’t want Xu Ruolan to get close to that world.
But Xu Ruolan didn’t see it that way and was instead infuriated by Ning Fan’s words, “If you’re a man, then why do you make me worry, and make Xiaoqing worry too!”
Ning Fan was wrong whether he opposed or not; as a man, he didn’t want Xu Ruolan to be exposed to the dangerous world, which was right, but he also made a mistake now by undertaking such a risky endeavor, causing Xu Ruolan and Xu Xiaoqing such concern.
What he did wasn’t completely right, but it wasn’t entirely wrong either; it could only be said that they were in different positions.
Ning Fan and Xu Ruolan didn’t argue; they both remained calm, well aware of each other’s hardships.
“I’ll take her back to her room to rest; this afternoon, I’ll go with you to the company.”
“What does that mean, you want to provide compensation?”
Xu Ruolan thought that Ning Fan did this as compensation for accompanying her, to make up for the concealment and for causing them concern.
“If Xiaoqing wakes up and doesn’t see you, she’ll be worried again.”
“Then don’t go back to the company today, and have a good rest for a day, how about that?”
“I’ve already rested enough in Europe.”
“But what if I say I want you to stay with me?”
“…”
Now Xu Ruolan was at a loss for words, she remained silent for a long time, toying with a strand of hair as an inexplicable gleam flashed in her eyes.
Ning Fan’s words struck right at the softest part of her heart, Xu Ruolan could not refuse, and to be honest, didn’t want to refuse.
Seeing Xu Ruolan’s conflicted look, Ning Fan felt more at ease in his heart, and the sense of loss from the total severance of his meridians and loss of martial prowess also dissipated somewhat.
“Then I’ll take Xiaoqing back to her room to rest, and you should rest well too.”
Xu Ruolan didn’t answer whether she agreed to Ning Fan not returning to the company today, but Ning Fan understood that her silence was, in fact, an agreement.
And Ning Fan, hearing this, tried to get up to take on the task of taking Xiaoqing back to her room, was refused by Xu Ruolan on the grounds that he needed to rest properly.
Lying in bed like a patient, Ning Fan had a wry smile on his face.
After Xu Ruolan left, she did not return to Ning Fan’s room.
Curious, Ning Fan stepped out to look, and discovered that Xu Ruolan was downstairs working on her laptop, with all the materials and documents being transferred over from the company.
Although she said she would accompany Ning Fan, Xu Ruolan also understood that what Ning Fan needed most right now was to rest properly.
If she were beside him, Ning Fan might not be able to relax and sleep, so she decided to work downstairs.
Xu Ruolan, now working in the living room, had her mind divided between thinking about Ning Fan’s situation and work-related matters.
It was unclear if her brain could handle it all, but judging by her rapidly moving gaze and the fingers tapping on the keyboard, she seemed to be more than capable.
Ning Fan shook his head, feeling a bit helpless, and didn’t actually lie down in his room to sleep.
Instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed and began the cultivation of the Eight Zen Mantra.
According to Ning Fan’s earlier expectations, after severing his own meridians, he should have succeeded in cultivating the Eight Zen Mantra, especially since he had previously cultivated it.
Although he had not mastered it, he had gained a lot of valuable insights, and it should have been a smooth process.
But the outcome was bitterly disappointing for Ning Fan.
Now, when he cultivated the Eight Zen Mantra, he couldn’t feel even the slightest effect, and his Dantian was sealed, unable to sense any True Qi whatsoever.
“How is this possible!” Ning Fan’s expression was one of intense agitation as he looked at his trembling hands, his face filled with disbelief.
This shouldn’t be happening, how could it be like this?!
Ning Fan thought resentfully, his expression becoming even more ferocious.
He couldn’t believe what was happening before his eyes.
“Didn’t I tell you to rest properly, why did you get up again?”