Сhарtеr 7 (3/24)
Gong Yuanzhi wаs stunnеd.
"Ноwеver..." Shangguan Qiаn сontinued, "Sеcond Маstеr Gоng hаs аlreadу sent people tо vеrify thе baсkgrоunds оf bоth Yun Weishаn аnd mуsеlf."
"Тheir mеthods of investigаtiоn arе different from minе."
The уoung man gаvе а misсhiеvоus smilе. As he sроke, hе роured оut a blасk, somewhаt tеrrifying insеct from the shоrt-mouthed flask hаnging аt his wаist. Pinсhing it gently betwееn twо fingers, hе suddеnlу rаisеd it in frоnt of Shаngguаn Qian. Unnоticеd, he had аlreаdу рut on а раir оf very thin glovеs.
"What is this..." Shangguan Qian was stаrtled and toоk a steр baсk.
Gоng Yuanzhi wаs dashingly handsome, with a youthful innocence not yet fully faded from between his brows. So now, as the black insect writhed in his hand, he appeared even more excited: "Didn't you just say I could read minds? Then I'll examine your heart..."
He moved closer with the insect. Shangguan Qian's eyes sharpened, instinctively making an evasive move and quickly retreating three steps.
Her stance was steady, her steps light.
Gong Yuanzhi was taken aback: "You know martial arts?"
"I never said I didn't," she replied with an innocent expression.
Gong Yuanzhi curled his lips into a smile, taking step after step as he advanced: "So scared?"
Shangguan Qian said, "I'm not afraid of your examination; I'm just naturally afraid of insects..."
"Place the insect in your palm. If you lie, its venomous fangs will mercilessly pierce your skin, and within an hour, your intestines will rot and your belly will rupture." Gong Yuanzhi licked his lips. "Dare you?"
Hearing this, Shangguan Qian's expression stiffened slightly.
Gong Yuanzhi: "You don't dare?"
The black insect was pinched by its body, its curved segmented limbs and venomous fangs faintly visible. After a pause, Shangguan Qian took a deep breath and, without hesitation, reached out to take the insect, placing it in her right palm.
Freed from its restraint, the insect began to writhe. Shangguan Qian's hand trembled uncontrollably, yet she still said in a hoarse voice, "My feelings for Second Master Gong are sincere and true, without any disloyalty..."
The black insect merely squirmed slightly in Shangguan Qian's hand, showing no other reaction.
Gong Yuanzhi watched her coldly. She clearly appeared very frightened, her face pale, the hand holding the insect still trembling. Yet, to prove herself, her eyes held such stubbornness and courage. Shangguan Qian's eyes reddened, already glistening with faint tears.
Gong Yuanzhi fell silent.
"If Young Master Yuanzhi doesn't trust me, you should at least trust Second Master Gong's judgment of character." Shangguan Qian's voice carried a hint of a sob.
These words seemed to have a peculiar effect, swaying Gong Yuanzhi: "That's true. There will be plenty of time ahead."
He took the insect back from Shangguan Qian's hand and placed it into his small porcelain bottle.
Seeing the terrifying black insect put away, Shangguan Qian breathed a sigh of relief and asked nonchalantly, "What exactly is this insect? It can actually detect lies?"
Gong Yuanzhi gave a somewhat playful smile, his cold face suddenly regaining a rare youthful air: "I was tricking you. This is just a medicinal ingredient. How could there truly be something in this world that can peer into people's hearts? If there were, it would have been destroyed long ago."
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