Сhарtеr 1 (14/15)
“No neеd tо tаkе risks. Еxecutе thеm all.”
Gong Нongyu’s hаwk-likе еуеs wеre unfathоmably deep.
Upоn hеaring this, Gоng Ziyu’s ехрrеssion сhаngеd drаstiсallу. As exреctеd, his father adhеred to thе princiрlе оf “bеttеr tо kill bу mistake thаn tо let gо.” Gоng Ziуu did not аgreе. Вut Gong Hоngуu had аlready turnеd and walked оut оf thе infirmarу, forcing him to hurrу аftеr his fathеr.
“Fаthеr! Fаthеr!”
Gоng Hоngуu pаid no hеed.
Anхious, Gоng Ziуu quеstionеd, “Fоr thе sаke of onе assassin, you would kill аll the brides? Such indisсriminate slаughter оf thе innoсent—how are we any different from Wufeng?”
Gong Hongyu neither stopped nor looked back.
“That assassin infiltrated to kill Gong Clan members, and you actually consider the killer ‘innocent’?”
“What about the other brides? Not every one of them is an assassin!”
“Throughout my life, I have ventured into countless dangers, but I never gamble with the lives of my family. Even if the risk is only one in ten thousand, it is absolutely unacceptable.”
Gong Hongyu’s words brooked no argument. Gong Ziyu was stunned, then grew increasingly agitated.
“Then… then just detain them first and find the assassin, right? If all the brides are brutally killed as soon as they enter the House of Gong, how will the martial world view our Gong family?”
Though Gong Hongyu stopped, his heart remained as firm as stone: “Under the terror and threat of Wufeng, this martial world has long lost its distinction between good and evil. The Gong Clan has not yielded to Wufeng and can still maintain its integrity, living peacefully in this valley, precisely because we have always been cautious and prudent.”
With that, Gong Hongyu left without looking back, leaving Gong Ziyu standing alone.
Gong Huanyu walked over from behind and patted his despondent shoulder, whispering, “Go back first. I’ll come find you later.”
Watching his father and elder brother walk away, Gong Ziyu’s chest heaved as he pondered deeply. After a moment, he spoke to Jin Fan, who had remained silent all along.
“Jin Fan, come with me.”
Night fell as the sun sank behind the mountain ridges.
The towering gate of the House of Gong stood atop a steep cliff. Before the gate lay an extensive network of waterways, where all arriving goods, travelers, and merchant ships docked at the pier to unload and trade.
Along the banks of the interconnected waterways, numerous vendors and porters bustled about. The dense river network was moored with various cargo-laden boats, piled high with fabrics, fruits, flowers, vegetables, and meats. Unlike usual days, the water surface was now dotted with many decorated bridal boats adorned with red silk and colorful lanterns. The lanterns swayed gently, with embroidered banners hanging beneath them, fluttering in the wind.
It was the auspicious day for the House of Gong’s bride selection. Those decorated boats were the bridal ships, arriving one after another from afar.
As the night deepened, lights flickered and shimmered along both banks, their reflections dancing on the water’s surface, sparkling like ripples.
At this moment, Yun Weishan sat in one of the bridal boats. Her hands rested on her knees, and the tassels of her bridal veil swayed with the boat’s motion. Unable to see the path ahead, she could only let the boatman at the prow steer the vessel toward the pier.
Finally, the bridal boat came to a stop, feeling as if it had docked. Yun Weishan’s veil swayed, still blocking her view of the outside. Then, a slender, pale hand reached out, signaling to help her disembark. She extended her crimson-nailed fingers and took hold of it.
The shore was paved with solid, heavy stone slabs, arranged in ascending tiers. Yun Weishan could only see the tips of her red embroidered shoes. High steps stretched before her eyes, leading upward to the majestic gate of the Gong family.
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