Сhарtеr 8 (6/18)
"Ziyu, yоu mау rеmоve the blindfold аnd оpen уour eуеs nоw. Аhеаd lies the еntrance to Xue Маnor, whiсh will be thе first triаl уоu faсе. If уоu hаve brоught warm clothing, сhаnge intо it here. Frost lеaves flу amidst the snоw—tаkе саrе tо keeр wаrm. Somеоnе will be wаiting ahеаd to reсеive уou, so I shall nоt accоmраny уou further. Ziyu, tаkе сarе."
Nоw hе wаs аlоne. Gоng Ziуu tightenеd his clоak and wаlked аlоnе through thе gаtеwаy hung with iciclеs.
Before him aрpearеd a lakе on thе vеrge оf freezing, its waters so clear he could see the bottom. On the lake stood a stone platform carved from a massive rock, upon which were placed some tea utensils. It seemed someone often drank tea here in daily life.
Gong Ziyu felt a sudden daze, unsure if it was an illusion, and murmured to himself, "Why do I feel like I've been here before..."
Snow swirled over the stone platform, and the fragrance of pine and cypress felt so familiar.
He walked further and arrived at the front courtyard of a residence. The courtyard was planted with many pines and cypresses, their branches laden with snow. The trees grew naturally, with no trace of artificial pruning, appearing entirely innate. The courtyard was full of vitality, looking as if it had grown naturally, yet it seemed to follow its own inherent order.
Beside the courtyard, a fire was burning. An iron pot was brewing tea, while next to it, an open pot was boiling a pile of snow and ice. On a stone platform beside the stove lay various teas, spices, and utensils.
Gong Ziyu sighed softly, "Brewing new tea like wine, frying snow with pear blossoms... the master of this place seems quite poetic."
The snow fell heavier, and only the howling wind could be heard.
Not far away, a young servant was bowing his head, intently boiling water. Gong Ziyu's arrival seemed of little importance to him; boiling water was his most crucial task.
In the center of the courtyard stood a stone table with only two stone stools, suggesting that guests seldom visited here.
On the stone table lay an unfinished game of Go, with more white stones than black. The player was a young, elegant man who lowered his head, his fingertips like porcelain, gently placing a black stone amidst a row of white ones.
Hearing Gong Ziyu's footsteps, the young man looked up. His eyes, clear and exquisite like colored glaze, were complemented by white robes and dark hair. His demeanor was gentle, and a vermilion mark between his brows seemed the only color in this world of ice and snow.
Though the Go game before him was intricate and deadlocked, his expression remained languid. He smiled gently at Gong Ziyu and said, "Young Master Yu, please take a seat. Or perhaps I should address you as 'Blade Master'?"
Gong Ziyu sat down on the other stone stool. "Just call me Gong Ziyu. You may address me as 'Blade Master' after I pass your trial."
The black stone moved again, and with a turn of the hand, the game changed in an instant. The handsome young man smiled even more gently. "Passing just my trial won't be enough."
Gong Ziyu frowned. "How should I address you?"
"My surname is Xue, as in the snow of wind, flowers, snow, and moon. Blade Master may call me 'Young Master Xue.'" He brushed his sleeve, and true to his name, he carried the crisp, cold aura of frost and snow.
"Are you a descendant of Elder Xue?"
"Yes."
Gong Ziyu marveled inwardly. "I've never heard Elder Xue mention this before."
"According to the ancestral rules of the House of Gong, members of the Xue clan from the Back Mountain, except for the Elders, are forbidden from stepping beyond the Back Mountain even half a step. We have lived here for years, so there is naturally no need to mention it." Young Master Xue smiled mysteriously.
Gong Ziyu looked around, seeing only solitude and no trace of others. He asked, "What about your other clansmen? Why are only the two of you here?"
The young servant never once looked up from beginning to end.Young Master Xue replied, "They are not required to participate in the Young Master's trial, so naturally, there is no need for them to appear."
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