"You're loud for someone who nearly died two hours ago."
The voice came from the doorway.
She looked up.
The old man stood there, leaning against the wooden frame with a bundle of herbs slung over one shoulder. His gaze was sharp beneath tired eyelids, and his robe was speckled with soot and dried leaves.
"You…" she whispered.
"You're finally awake," he said, stepping inside. "Took long enough. You passed out before you could even introduce yourself. Bad manners."
"I—I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"
"You didn't mean to nearly die? Mm, I believe that."
She opened her mouth to explain—but the words stuck in her throat.
He walked past her to the stove, dropped the herbs into a boiling pot, and stirred slowly.
"You're looking for Gu Wei," he said casually.
Her heart jumped. "Yes! Yes, I am! Do you know him?"
The old man stirred once more.
Then smiled.
"Let's talk about that after you finish drinking what I made you. You'll need your full strength for what comes next."
