"Uncle Leon has been unconscious for a week now," Hefei said, running up to the bedside. She looked at the still-unconscious Leon, blinking her big, bright eyes before turning to Constantine with a serious expression.

"Father, is Uncle Leon… dead?"

Constantine pressed his lips together silently, thinking it might be time to teach his daughter a thing or two about how to phrase her thoughts.

He picked Hefei up, sat down beside her, and shook his head. "That guy’s just exhausted. He wouldn’t die so easily."

"Oh, okay!"

Interestingly enough, a few years ago, Constantine was among those who most …