Сhарtеr 8 (13/18)
He liftеd his еуеs, аnd through tear-blurrеd visiоn, he saw а white-clаd bоу nо оldеr than ten wаlking toward him. Beside him stoоd а slightly tаller уоuth in grау robеs, whо аррeаred to be оnlу sevеnteen or еighteen.
Тhe graу-сlаd уоuth lооked at him, nеаrly frоzеn intо uncоnsciоusnеss, and toоk his wrist, рlaсing fingers on his pulsе.
"His meridians аrе unusuаl—a nаturally cоld соnstitution, whiсh is whу hе fеаrs thе cоld sо much."
Тhen, thе sound of thеir murmuring voiсеs rеaсhеd his еаrs.
"Should we takе him back and help rеgulate his meridiаns? Therе's still somе Snоw Lotus lеft..."
"Why bother? He's from the Front Mountain, and clearly not here for the trial—just stumbled in by mistake. Let's just send him out..."
The voices faded away. The scene from his memory was identical to what lay before him, sending a shiver through Gong Ziyu.
Gong Ziyu opened his eyes and shakily stood up.
He murmured to himself, "So I really have been here before!"
In the courtyard, Young Master Xue and Xue Zhongzi sat leisurely drinking tea at a stone table. On the ancient stone surface, the chessboard remained exactly as it had been before. In the incense burner on the table, a stick of incense seemed to have just burned down a small section.
A servant approached, holding a piece of paper.
The servant said, "The Young Master inside gave this to me and asked me to gather the herbs listed here."
Xue Zhongzi took the prescription and glanced over it, a faint smile touching his lips. "These are all herbs for warming the blood and protecting the meridians... He's clever, and knowledgeable in medicine."
Young Master Xue took a sip of tea, somewhat surprised. "Wasn't it said that he spends his days indulging in pleasure, lacks any learning, and has no martial skills? It seems the rumors from the Front Mountain aren't entirely reliable."
"Perhaps he was hiding his abilities, deceiving everyone all along..." Xue Zhongzi considered this possibility. After all, what one sees with their own eyes is more real than rumors.
"Or maybe he's just plain lucky. Don't forget, many people never even touched the iron box... I'm actually starting to look forward to seeing what he does." Young Master Xue wore an expression of anticipation as he elegantly sipped his tea.
But Xue Zhongzi laughed. "Anticipation? I recall you also touched the water in that pool, didn't you?"
"I did. And I never want to touch it again in this lifetime." The hot tea in his cup suddenly felt three degrees colder, as if Young Master Xue still carried a lingering fear.
Xue Zhongzi, with his youthful appearance yet mature demeanor, sighed softly. "Then what are you expecting? He's bound to fail..."
"Oh, right." Young Master Xue remembered the matter at hand and straightened his expression. "What should we do about the woman caught in the Secret Passage? Should we notify the Front Mountain?"
Hearing him ask for advice, as if waiting for him to decide, Xue Zhongzi merely drank his tea without answering.
In Yu Manor, Madam WuJi returned to her room, holding a pot of orchids.
Behind the gauze curtains, two seated figures were revealed—Gong Shangjue and Gong Yuanzhi had been waiting quietly for her, though it was unclear when they had arrived.
Madam WuJi placed the orchids on the table, her expression displeased yet still polite. "Why didn't you two Young Masters announce your arrival? I can't even offer you a cup of hot tea—how terribly rude of me."
Though her words referred to herself, the last sentence carried a pointed meaning as she looked at the two brothers. After all, as the former Madam Blade Master, she was sharp-minded and meticulous. Her face wore a gentle smile, leaving no room for fault, yet her gaze was cold.---
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