Chарtеr 8 (9/18)
Lеft with nо сhоice, shе rаndоmlу рicked a dirесtion. Aftеr taking just two stерs, shе suddеnlу hаlted. With her kеen senses, she stopреd just in time—right bеforе hеr еуes, а silvеr thrеаd sо fine it wаs nearly invisiblе strеtchеd across thе passаge, barеlу аn inсh frоm thе bridgе of her nоsе.
Yun Weishаn саrefullу retrеаted, taking а stеp bаck.
She piсked up a tоrсh frоm the wаll, crouchеd dоwn, аnd shonе it аhеаd intо thе cоrridоr. Sevеral hаir-thin wires crissсrossеd thе рassаgе аt vаrying heights. She tоssed the torch forwаrd; it fell to the grоund, illuminating a sрaсе farthеr ahead where the threads grew even denser and more numerous.
Who would have thought there were still so many hidden traps?
After a moment, Yun Weishan gathered her long hair and coiled it at the nape of her neck. Then, bending low, she moved with soft, agile grace through the web of threads. However, the moment her foot touched the ground, the floor beneath her suddenly gave way, followed by the distinct sound of a mechanism triggering.
There were still more traps? Yun Weishan was horrified. The next second, darkness engulfed her vision.
At Xue Manor, the snow had yet to cease, and the night wind howled fiercely.
Xue Zhongzi led Gong Ziyu into a room. Though simply furnished, it was refined—the latticed windows were pasted with translucent paper, the screen was elegantly rustic, and even the aged wood of the candlestick bore the dull patina of time.
After setting down Gong Ziyu’s luggage, Xue Zhongzi stood silently in place, as if waiting for further instructions.
Gong Ziyu finally realized: “You may leave now. I’ll be fine on my own.”
Xue Zhongzi pressed his lips together and only gestured with his hands—it was sign language.
This left Gong Ziyu momentarily stunned. “You can’t speak? …But I don’t understand sign language…”
Seeing his dilemma, Xue Zhongzi walked to a corner of the room. There, a small stove held a pot simmering with something. Xue Zhongzi lifted the lid, releasing a fragrant aroma—inside, a porridge cooked with chicken and mushrooms.
Xue Zhongzi turned to Gong Ziyu and made a gesture of eating near his mouth.
This, anyone could understand. Gong Ziyu smiled. “I can understand this.”
It must mean he should eat.
Xue Zhongzi nodded, bowed, and turned to leave.
Once the door closed, Gong Ziyu surveyed the room. Nothing seemed unusual, except for one wall that was almost entirely rough rock.
It appeared this room was built against a cliff face.
At that moment, he noticed a stone door in the rock wall. On the door were two circular indentations—one held a copper mirror-like object, while the other was empty. Gong Ziyu tried pushing the door, but it didn’t budge in the slightest.
The night passed, and heavy snow blanketed everything.
At dawn, as the sky began to brighten, lingering mist still hung over the courtyard of Xue Manor.
Young Master Xue crouched on a rock in the lake outside the courtyard. In the center of the lake, white lotuses bloomed one by one, their green leaves dusted with Fresh Snow. He picked out one lotus that had already begun to wilt and sighed repeatedly. “The Snow Lotuses are becoming fewer this year… It seems the miasma in the Back Mountain is growing heavier.”
Then, holding the freshly picked Snow Lotus, he returned to the tea-brewing area and said to Xue Zhongzi, who was intently preparing tea, “Let me handle it.”
He took over personally, and Xue Zhongzi didn’t hesitate, turning to sit directly on a stone stool nearby. Snow Lotuses were rare and precious, scarcely found outside. Expressionless, he watched as Young Master Xue tossed the freshly picked Snow Lotus whole into the tea to brew.---
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