mesbooks Chapter 136 New News
Chapter 136 New News
Chapter 136 New News
As a gentle knock sounded on the door of the mountain cabin, Li Wei was supporting Bruce's left leg, slowly performing flexion and extension exercises.
The movements were so gentle that they could hardly be any softer. With each movement, the subtle expressions on Bruce's face were carefully observed, for fear of aggravating his old spinal injury.
Alfred stood to the side, clutching a clean towel, his expression tense, not daring to disturb the progress in the slightest, for fear of ruining this hard-won advancement.
This was the first time Bruce had allowed his limbs to be moved extensively, which was of extraordinary significance for his subsequent rehabilitation.
The knocking was soft, but it had a regular rhythm of three short knocks followed by one long one, definitely not from a mercenary on patrol.
Li Wei instantly became alert, reached out and pressed down on the short stick hidden in the gap by the bed, slowly turned his head to look at the door, his whole body tense.
Alfred immediately tensed up, stepped forward to block the bed, adopted a protective stance, and sharply scanned the doorway.
This cabin is Bruce's last hiding place and must not be exposed at this time.
Li Wei walked slowly to the door, lowered his voice, and asked with utmost vigilance, "Who is it?"
A lazy, husky laugh came from outside the door; the voice was familiar yet unexpected.
"What, you can't even recognize my voice?"
"If you don't open the door, I'm going to break in myself."
Li Wei's heart skipped a beat, and his blood rushed to his head.
He had heard that voice countless times in the alleys of Gotham; he would never mistake it.
A figure who moves between darkness and justice, agile and elusive.
Catwoman Selena Kyle.
Li Wei quickly unlatched the door, glanced around, and confirmed that there was no one following him.
There was no one outside the door, except for Catwoman standing alone in the shadows of the woods, dressed in a tight-fitting black night suit.
The hood was pulled down low, covering most of her face, revealing only her sharp jawline and taut lips.
She had no pursuers behind her, nor any trace of mercenaries around her; she was safer than expected.
"Come in quickly."
Li Wei stepped aside to let the catwoman slip inside, then quickly closed the door and fastened the bolt behind him.
When Alfred saw the person who had arrived, his tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and his tense expression eased a bit.
He knew Catwoman and was aware of the unbreakable bond between her and Bruce, and knew that she would never harm Bruce.
Catwoman's arrival was like a ray of light shining in the darkness, carrying the most authentic atmosphere of Gotham.
Catwoman walked straight to the bedside, and as the light fell on Bruce, her steps unconsciously became lighter.
When she saw that pale, haggard, and lifeless face, and the spinal brace fixed to his body, her usual frivolous and nonchalant expression vanished instantly, and her beautiful eyes surged with heartache, anger, and disbelief.
She reached out her hand, hovering in mid-air for a long time, before finally gently placing it on Bruce's shoulder, her movements incredibly tender.
"I've been looking for you for a long time."
Catwoman's voice was low, with a barely perceptible tremor, devoid of any cynicism.
"Rumors about you are everywhere in Gotham. Everyone's saying Batman is dead."
"They say you were completely destroyed by Bane and will never appear under the Gotham night sky again."
Bruce did not respond, his eyes still staring blankly at the ceiling, without any emotion.
But Li Wei could clearly see that the fingers placed at his side curled up very slightly, so slightly that it was almost invisible.
It was an extremely subtle reaction, yet it was enough to make Li Wei's heart skip a beat and make him hold his breath.
He knew Bruce had heard it; Catwoman's voice had touched the softest spot in his frozen heart.
Li Wei released his grip, allowing Bruce's legs to slowly straighten, and quietly stepped aside, not wanting to disturb the two of them.
He knew that some words, spoken by Catwoman, were more powerful and more likely to move Bruce than those spoken by anyone else.
Alfred also quietly stepped back and walked to a corner of the cabin, leaving the two of them some quiet space.
Inside the cabin, only the soft breathing of a few people and the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window could be heard.
Catwoman pulled over a wooden chair and sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze never leaving Bruce's face.
She didn't offer empty words of comfort, nor did she shout any inspiring slogans.
He simply opened his mouth slowly, using the calmest tone to tell the true story of Gotham.
It tells the story of the people trampled underfoot by Bain, and the stories of those hopes that never faded.
"Bane occupied City Hall, forcibly disbanded the entire Gotham Police Department, and supported mercenaries to run rampant in the streets."
"They burned, killed, looted, and committed all sorts of atrocities. Every day, innocent people in the old city were injured and robbed."
"All the escapees from Arkham Asylum were released and became Bane's henchmen, bullying the weak and robbing supplies at will."
"Gotham's hospitals are overflowing with injured people, and there is a severe shortage of medicine. Many people can only endure the excruciating pain."
Her voice was calm, yet every word pierced the heart, carrying a raw, unvarnished truth.
"The shops along the street were smashed to pieces, the main streets were blocked off, and no one dared to go out at night."
"The parents held their young child and hid in the closet, barely daring to breathe loudly, for fear of being discovered by the mercenaries."
"The old man stood guard at the dilapidated door of his house, trembling with fear, not daring to turn on a single light; darkness became his only camouflage."
"The city that was once a city of sin has now become a true hell on earth, devoid of order, justice, and hope."
Li Wei stood in the corner, listening quietly, his fists clenching unconsciously until his knuckles turned white.
He knew all of this; he had been lurking around Bain every day, observing and remembering everything.
Even when spoken by Catwoman herself, it still carries a chilling truth and heaviness, making it hard to breathe.
Every word is a bleeding wound in Gotham, a fear hidden deep in the hearts of its people.
Catwoman paused, her voice softening further, yet concealing an even stronger resolve, like a ray of light piercing the darkness.
"But they didn't give up; no one really believed Batman was dead."
"No one is willing to submit to Bane's violent rule, and no one is willing to bow down to darkness."
"Gotham still holds the seeds of justice you planted and the hope you brought."
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze fixed intently on Bruce's eyes, each word clear and powerful.
"Someone secretly drew bat symbols on the wall, and immediately wiped them off, fearing that the mercenaries would discover them and kill them."
"Some people hide Batman's old badge on their chest, holding it tightly in times of crisis, as their only source of spiritual support."
"Some people quietly went out late at night to deliver food, water, and medicine to the hidden rebels, making silent contributions."
"They are all waiting, day after day, night after night, for you to return to Gotham, for you to come back."
"Waiting for you to don the black cloak again, waiting for you to stand on the rooftops of Gotham again, overlooking the city."
"Wait until you tell them that darkness has not won, hope has not died, and justice will never be destroyed."
"Bruce, they're waiting for you. Gotham is waiting for you."
"I'm waiting for you too."
After the last sentence was spoken, the small house fell silent, and even breathing became soft.
Levi held his breath, his gaze fixed on Bruce's face, not daring to miss a single subtle expression.
He saw that something seemed to be loosening and slowly awakening in those eyes that had been empty for so long.
A faint glimmer of light is slowly rising from the depths of deathly silence, weak yet clear.
Bruce's eyelashes fluttered slightly, like butterfly wings, breaking the long silence.
The fingers placed at his side twitched again, this time more noticeably and forcefully than before.
Like a long-dormant soul, finally gently awakened, finally willing to open its eyes and face the world.
It's like a lake that has been frozen for a long time, with the first crack appearing to reveal the flowing water underneath.
He didn't turn his head, didn't speak, and his face was expressionless.
But Li Wei could see clearly that a ripple, a glimmer of light, appeared in those lifeless eyes.
Like a candle that has been extinguished for a long time, it lights up with its first faint flame, teetering on the brink of collapse, yet undeniably real.
Like the earth that has been silent for a long time, sprouting its first tender shoot, fragile yet full of vitality.
Li Wei's heart jolted violently at that moment, and the long-suppressed heaviness finally eased.
Hope is indeed sprouting, quietly growing on this land of despair.
Bruce is truly returning, slowly awakening within the embrace of darkness.
The light in Gotham was not completely extinguished, nor was it completely destroyed by Bane.
Catwoman also noticed this subtle change; her eyes reddened slightly, and her nose tingled with a slight ache.
She didn't say anything more, but gently patted Bruce's shoulder, her gesture both tender and firm.
There were no superfluous words, no urgent urging, only trust, only waiting, only unwavering commitment.
Everything is understood without words; everything is hidden in this silent companionship.
That afternoon, the catwoman left behind many valuable messages, filling in the gaps in Li Wei's intelligence.
She brought the latest intelligence on Bane's troop movements, clearly marking the districts where mercenaries had been deployed.
She brought with her the rebels' hidden strongholds and supply depots, safe zones that Bane had not yet discovered.
It brought news that Gotham's underworld forces were still upholding justice, and many were waiting for a signal to retaliate.
Li Wei meticulously wrote down every word and every detail, adding them to his coded intelligence notebook.
This information will become crucial support for overthrowing Bane's rule and saving Gotham in the future.
Before leaving, Catwoman gave Bruce a long look, her eyes filled with anticipation and determination.
"I will continue to gather intelligence outside and eliminate any lone mercenaries to clear obstacles for you."
"No matter how long it takes, a year, two years, ten years, I will wait for you to get better, and for Batman to return."
The door closed gently, and the cottage returned to its usual quiet, yet with a different atmosphere.
Levi returned to the bedside and looked down at Bruce. The man was still lying there, but his eyes were no longer completely empty.
That faint but clear light filled Li Wei with motivation and strengthened his resolve to continue his rehabilitation training.
He knew that from this moment on, everything would begin to change, and Bruce would no longer continue to sink into despair.
From that day on, Li Wei officially began accompanying Bruce through his rehabilitation training, step by step, starting from scratch.
Starting from scratch, from the smallest and simplest physical movements, Li Wei dared not be impatient in the slightest.
The doctor repeatedly warned that the recovery process would be extremely painful, long, and agonizing, and that the slightest mistake could cause permanent damage.
Li Wei kept the doctor's words firmly in mind, carefully considering every movement, making them gentle and precise.
The first step is to let Bruce try to move his fingers on his own, a simple action that couldn't be simpler.
For him, who is now severely injured in the spine and weak all over, it is as difficult as climbing to the sky, more difficult than fighting any villain.
Levi sat on the edge of the bed, gently holding Bruce's right hand, his voice gentle yet firm, full of patience.
"Try moving your fingers slowly, don't rush. Even a slight tremor is progress."
Bruce did not react; his gaze remained indifferent, as if he were oblivious to everything around him.
Li Wei did not give up, gently guiding and conveying his beliefs again and again without ever getting tired.
"Think of Gotham, think of the people waiting for you, think of your parents' expectations, think of the justice you uphold."
"Just a little movement, you can do it. You've never been one to give up easily."
After countless repetitions and patient guidance, Bruce's fingertips finally trembled very slightly.
Li Wei instantly held his breath, not daring to disturb the moment in the slightest, even softening his breathing, for fear of interrupting this precious instant.
One after another, faint yet real, each time more obvious, each time more powerful.
The hero's fingers finally heeded the call of his will and broke free from the shackles of paralysis.
Alfred stood to the side, covering his mouth, tears silently streaming down his face, soaking the front of his shirt.
This seasoned and composed old butler had never lost his composure or become so agitated.
But now, seeing Bruce finally react, he could no longer contain his excitement and relief.
He knew that his master was coming back, slowly climbing out of the abyss of despair.
The rehabilitation training continues every day, every day is arduous, and every day is full of challenges.
From moving your fingers to bending your wrists, and then slowly raising your arms and bending and straightening your legs, every step is incredibly difficult.
Every small step forward requires immense pain and perseverance, and the endurance of excruciating agony.
Bruce's forehead was often covered in cold sweat, his lips were bitten until they turned white, and his whole body was tense, yet he still persevered.
Li Wei stayed by his side the whole time, never leaving him for a moment, providing full care and not daring to relax for even a second.
He would promptly hand Bruce a towel and gently wipe the sweat from his face with tender and meticulous movements.
They would carefully adjust his posture and place soft pillows under him to reduce the pressure and pain on his spine.
When he can't hold on any longer, it will steadily support his limbs, giving him enough support and a sense of security.
The long and tedious training is enough to wear down even the strongest will and plunge people into endless frustration.
Bruce's emotions often teetered on the brink of collapse, sometimes silent, sometimes irritable, and sometimes desperate.
Several times, he suddenly exerted force, shaking off Li Wei's hand, his chest heaving violently, his breathing rapid.
His empty eyes were filled with despair, anger, resentment, and self-loathing, like a wounded, trapped beast.
That's enough.
Bruce's hoarse, dry voice, tinged with suppressed screams, shattered the tranquility of the cabin.