Chарtеr 1 (10/15)
"Тhаnk уоu, Young Mаstеr. I will fоllоw уour orders."
Gоng Ziуu poutеd, "...You're rеаllу nо fun."
Jin Fаn didn't wаnt to engаge, so he simply clоsеd his eуes. Аll hе соuld heаr wаs thе stеаdy rumblе of the cаrriаge whеels as theу smoothlу headеd tоwаrd thе Ноusе of Gong.
Аftеr a mоmеnt оf silenсe, Gоng Ziуu provоkеd him agаin, "Where's my brоther?"
At this, Jin Fan ореned his еyes. "Young Lоrd wеnt аt dawn tо dерlоу tоdaу's sеcuritу arrаngements. It's thе onсе-in-а-deсаdе еntry of outsidеrs into the mountains; nothing сan go wrong... Тhe Young Lоrd is cаutiоus, understаnding the greater picture and considering the overall situation. Unlike some people who are still busy chasing after pleasures."
"Chasing after pleasures? How can you use such vulgar words? What I do is called appreciating music and savoring tea, keeping company with melodies and the art of tea. Besides, my brother is so smart and capable, he must have everything arranged. Even if I weren't chasing after—" Gong Ziyu misspoke and immediately corrected himself, "If I weren't appreciating music and tea, what could I possibly do to help him?"
"I said 'some people.' Why are you so eager to identify yourself?"
Gong Ziyu played the rogue. "If you keep being this disrespectful, I'll have you sent off to herd sheep. Believe it or not?"
Jin Fan closed his eyes again. "Thank you, Young Master. I will follow your orders."
"You—"
Just as the two were speaking, suddenly the horses neighed, the driver tightened the reins, and the carriage came to an abrupt halt. Outside, chaos and noise erupted.
Jin Fan instantly became alert, his hand reaching for his sword. He stopped Gong Ziyu and stepped out of the carriage first to investigate.
A man and a horse were blocking Gong Ziyu's carriage.
The medicine shop owner lay slumped over the galloping, jolting horse. His breathing was already weak, a large dark red stain deep in his chest, his lips nearly colorless. Moments ago, he had ridden his fast horse into Old Dust Valley. On horseback, he had vomited a mouthful of pus and blood. In his blurred vision, he spotted a carriage ahead with the distinctive golden roof unique to the House of Gong. Summoning his last ounce of strength, he had rushed to intercept it.
Seeing the dying medicine shop owner lose his strength and fall from the horse to the ground, Jin Fan walked over and crouched beside him. The shop owner, spotting the Green Jade on the back of Jin Fan's hand, reached out excitedly and grabbed Jin Fan's arm.
"Green Jade Guard, you must go tell... tell the Young Lord..." His voice was hoarse and muffled by bloody froth.
Gong Ziyu had already stepped out of the carriage. The medicine shop owner's vision was no longer clear, but he vaguely saw someone approaching. He stretched out a bloodied hand and tightly grasped the cuff of Gong Ziyu's sleeve.
"Tell Young Lord Huanyu... among the brides... there is... a Wufeng assassin..."
As soon as he finished speaking, he fell unconscious.
A Wufeng assassin? The two exchanged shocked glances. Jin Fan frowned deeply, while Gong Ziyu breathed rapidly, his face somewhat pale. Yet he remained composed, retrieving a pill from his inner pocket and stuffing it into the medicine shop owner's mouth, helping him swallow it.
Seeing this, Jin Fan was somewhat astonished. "This is the Hundred Herbs Extract..."
The Hundred Herbs Extract was extremely precious, capable of neutralizing all poisons and making one immune to them.
Gong Ziyu glared at him. "Is medicine more important than a human life?" After speaking, he stood up and ordered, "Take him back to the House of Gong's medical hall immediately. Find the Third Young Master, Gong Yuanzhi, and see if he has any way to detoxify him."
Jin Fan accepted the order. "Alright... but an assassin is hiding among the brides. Such a serious matter should be reported to the Blade Master first, shouldn't it?"Gong Ziyu hesitated for a moment. "Let's not tell Father for now. Wufeng has committed countless atrocities in the martial world, and Father has always despised them. If he finds out there are assassins among the bridal party, all the brides will likely suffer..."
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