Сhарtеr 6 (6/20)
A pаir оf fооtstеps apрrоachеd from behind. Jin Fаn sаt dоwn twо stерs below, his fаce flushed as if seething with silеnt аnger.
Gоng Ziyu аskеd him, "Whаt аre уоu аngrу аbout?"
"Gоng Shangjue is toо аrrogаnt. No matter whаt, you аre the Вlаdе Маstеr, уet he соmplеtеlу... cоmplеtеly..."
Gong Ziуu finishеd his sentеnce: "...cоmpletelу disrеgаrds me."
Jin Fаn pressed his liрs tоgеther, unsurе hоw tо rеsроnd, his eуеs slightly mоist.
Outsidе the hall, а light snow bеgаn tо fall. It wаs still dеер winter, and with the snоw came a chilling wind thаt could eаsily freеze а рersоn.
Gong Ziyu lifted his face, indifferent to the cold, letting a few snowflakes land on his distinct brows.
"Actually, it's not just him. In the eyes of the Elders, I, as the Blade Master, am also inferior to Gong Shangjue. He is right—in terms of status, ability, and character, I am not qualified to be the Blade Master... If it weren't for the unbreakable rule of Absence Succession, I believe the Elders would have chosen him..."
Jin Fan didn't understand why he suddenly felt so disheartened: "Blade Master..."
Gong Ziyu felt the cold and sniffled.
"...When the poisonous smoke exploded today, it was Gong Shangjue who immediately stood in front of the Elders... In his heart, the family's bloodline always comes first. As for martial arts, I don't have enough Inner Force to disperse the poisonous smoke in the hall. If Gong Shangjue hadn't been here today, the consequences would have been unimaginable. As the House of Gong Blade Master, I couldn't even protect others..."
Though he and Gong Shangjue were like fire and water, he understood that he was far from matching him.
Jin Fan comforted him: "The Elders all took the Hundred Herbs Extract, so the poisonous smoke wouldn't have harmed them..."
Gong Ziyu: "My father and brother also took the Hundred Herbs Extract..."
Jin Fan fell silent.
"Stop making excuses for me. Perhaps I really am unworthy..."
The snow seemed to grow heavier, the howling wind filling his ears.
The open ground in front of the hall was quickly covered in snow. Gong Ziyu recalled kneeling in such a snowy, icy landscape when he was ten years old, holding a blade as he admitted his mistakes.
His father stood before him, scolding him sternly: "Every time you practice martial arts, you slack off. You are not worthy of being the Blade Master's son!"
He shivered from the cold: "Father, it's snowing... it's really cold..."
His father retorted: "Then why isn't Huanyu cold?"
Gong Ziyu turned his head and saw Gong Huanyu, eighteen years old, bare-chested in the snow-covered courtyard, practicing blade techniques with intense focus, his body radiating heat. He tried to mimic his brother's expression of resilience, but the next moment, he reverted to his pitiful, frail self. It was too cold.
Seeing his father's cold, disappointed expression, he finally realized: his father was wise and courageous, the renowned House of Gong Blade Master, while he bore no resemblance to him. Perhaps it was only natural that he was looked down upon.
The memory was long and lingering. Even as an adult, he still feared the cold. Wrapped in a thick fur cloak, he sat on the steps of the courtyard, a long blade placed beside him. Still unwilling to practice, he idly watched the melting snowdrops drip, lost in thought.
Someone approached from behind and sat down beside him, placing a warm iron hand-warmer into his palm.---
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