Hearing Shen Muzhi and You Siqi's explanation, Liu Buli was also taken aback. To be honest, when they first met, he never imagined that he would develop such a close relationship with these two.
From the moment he decided to stay with Lu Wuming, he had actually given up all thoughts of making friends. Yet, not only did he make friends, but these friends turned out to be the protagonist of this world and the author who created it.
This feeling…
It was truly wondrous.
Unable to suppress a smile, Liu Buli nodded. He said, "Indeed, I hadn't thought things through. Looking at it this way, if I never saw you two again in this lifetime, it would truly be quite lonely…"
"Naturally, because besides us, you have no other friends," You Siqi said, smiling with immense pride.
Although Yun Xiang, Ao Lie, and Li Qingcheng were people with whom Liu Buli could converse, how could their relationships possibly compare to those of two fellow countrymen from another world?
This was You Siqi's thought.
Liu Buli naturally came to the same conclusion.
Pressing his forehead with a hint of helplessness, he offered a wry smile. "You're right. I never would have imagined that I'd become friends with someone I almost killed. This is truly too thrilling."
At his words, the others recalled the scene of their first meeting. You Siqi immediately began to scold Liu Buli with a furious expression. Liu Buli listened, smiling, and for the first time, felt that having friends by his side was actually quite nice.
As Lu Wuming had not yet regained consciousness, the three of them spent the next few days waiting for his recovery at the inn.
Since the foremost physician in the realm had declared there was no issue, Liu Buli naturally stopped worrying. However, even so, he spent most of his time by Lu Wuming's side. Even though the other was still in a coma, he always felt that with him present, Lu Wuming might wake up a little sooner.
Whether it was because his prayers had taken effect or because Lu Wuming's physical condition was truly exceptional, this coma lasted for another three days. On the morning of the fourth day, Liu Buli sat by the bedside, propping his head with a drowsy air. He had expected the day to pass like any other, but then, in a semi-conscious state, he heard a timid call: "Master?"
The voice was soft, but the familiar tone and inflection were enough to jolt Liu Buli awake instantly.
Opening his eyes as quickly as possible, Liu Buli looked at Lu Wuming and found that the eyes that had been tightly shut had, at some point, reopened.
Their color was the familiar black, just as Shen Muzhi had said; once all the evil energy and resentment were absorbed, Lu Wuming would return to his normal state.
It seemed his body's self-regulation was finally complete…
Reaching this conclusion rapidly in his mind, Liu Buli breathed a sigh of relief. Before the big dog in front of him could start acting cute, Liu Buli reached out and firmly tapped the top of his head.
With widened eyes, he feigned an angry expression. Liu Buli began to scold, "You fellow, why are you becoming more disobedient? I told you to absorb the divine soul of that evil god, not to swallow it whole in one go. If you can't succeed in one attempt, we can take more time. What's the rush? Are you only happy when you make me worry myself to death?"
The barrage of scolding left Lu Wuming, who had just opened his eyes, stunned. He seemed to understand that something had happened to him, and therefore, he didn't offer much explanation in response to Liu Buli's reprimand.
He merely lowered his head, looking aggrieved. His unseen dog ears and tail drooped. He looked exactly like a dog being scolded by its owner, appearing truly pitiful.
Liu Buli was indeed furious, but after days of waiting, he had also been incredibly anxious.
If Lu Wuming was eager to see him, then he was equally eager to see Lu Wuming. Their feelings for each other were mutual; Lu Wuming's affection was no less than his own. Thus, even while uttering words of scolding, in the end, seeing Lu Wuming in this state, Liu Buli felt more reluctance than anything else.
The silence lasted less than ten seconds before Liu Buli couldn't help but break it. Reaching out, he pulled his big dog into his embrace and let out a long sigh.
Softening his tone, his voice a little gentler than before, he said, "I don't mean to scold you; I'm just very worried. I never asked you to finish absorbing those things quickly. Why the rush? Look at you now; aren't you just looking for ways to make me worry?"
With his tone now much improved, Lu Wuming finally dared to respond.
Pouting pitifully, Lu Wuming said, "I didn't expect such consequences. At first, I just wanted to speed things up, thinking I could see Master sooner that way. I really didn't think too much about it, because I had a way to devour it. So, I thought even if I swallowed it faster, it shouldn't be a problem. I just tried it, and the result was…"
The result was falling into an unconscious state.
Lu Wuming, afraid of angering Liu Buli, kept the last sentence to himself.
He could actually feel himself falling unconscious, but he couldn't confirm how long he had been out.
It was like having a very long and incredibly real dream. In the dream, he knew clearly what he had to do; he had to absorb and digest all the malevolent thoughts that had entered his body before he could regain consciousness. He knew all of this, and precisely because he knew, he felt exceptionally guilty and nervous looking into Liu Buli's eyes now.
Fortunately, the topic ended there, and Liu Buli didn't intend to reprimand him further. He simply patted his head and said, "Since you're awake, I'll have Shen Muzhi examine you again. You…"
Mid-sentence, his arm was grabbed by Lu Wuming.
The big dog looked at him with pleading eyes, his face full of grievance. "Master, there's no need for him to examine me. Can we do what you promised me now?"