Chapter 409: Scraping By

"...This is bad! You idiot--what mess did you get yourself into?!" Macheo's voice was heard. 

"Get his coat off! And his tunic! Hurry!" Mencius yelled out. 

Most of what he heard only sounded like slightly abnormal ringing in his eyes as the world felt as if it was spinning beneath his back. 

"Ren?! Can you hear me?!" 

It was Jae-Seong's voice, accompanied by soft, continuous pats to his cheek as if trying to coax him back into the conscious world. 

...I...can...hear you, he thought. 

His only response was spitting up blood that rained back down onto his face as he felt himself momentarily choking. 

"Iris! I'm going to need you to help me! Keep yourself composed--for him!" Mencius yelled. 

"...Okay," the girl's voice came out through plentiful tears. 

Why is she crying? What's making her so sad? He thought.