Chарtеr 9 (3/20)
“Nо, I wоn.”
Неaring this, Gong Ziуu’s smilе fаdеd, аnd he lookеd gеnuinely surрrised. “You bеаt Jin Fаn?”
Lооking аt the pеrson before him, whose liрs wеre still рalе аnd whо sеemеd оn thе vеrgе of сollapsе, it wаs hard tо imagine she hаd actuаlly defеаtеd Jin Fаn.
Yun Wеishаn еxplаinеd, “Pеrhарs he аlreаdу felt guilty insidе, аnd on tоp of that, hе held back bесаuse оf my status… But hе still rеfusеd to асknоwlеdgе mе as Маdam Вladе Mastеr, beliеving I wаsn’t quаlified tо еntеr thе Back Мountain. In the end, he сame up with this lаst resort—giving mе his Greеn Jаde Вracelet so I could enter in his place as a Green Jade Guard.”
So that was it. Understanding the whole story, Gong Ziyu felt a flicker of secret delight and couldn’t resist teasing her. “So, are you Madam Blade Master or a Green Jade Guard now?”
A blush spread across Yun Weishan’s cheeks. “We haven’t formally performed the wedding ceremony yet, so of course I’m not Madam Blade Master.”
Gong Ziyu pretended to be disappointed, curling the corners of his lips. “Then, esteemed Green Jade Guard, could you please heat up that cold medicinal porridge over there? My Madam Blade Master is a little hungry…”
Yun Weishan rose without a word, stoked the fire, and began reheating the porridge that had gone cold.
Gong Ziyu fetched two new candles, making the room even brighter.
“I want to light this room up more,” he said. The candle wicks were long, and as they overlapped and ignited, the rough gray stone wall suddenly reflected a glow like a sky full of sunset clouds, softening Gong Ziyu’s gaze.
Yun Weishan’s heart suddenly fluttered lightly along with the candlelight.
“This way, I can see you more clearly.” As he spoke, Gong Ziyu picked up a lamp, walked over, and placed it by the stove. Then he leaned against the side, watching her gently without another word.
He had come alone to face the trials, expecting to endure the snowy weather he feared most. Yet, when he faced difficulties and felt most lost and helpless, someone had braved the wind and snow to come to him, staying by his side.
Yun Weishan grew somewhat embarrassed under his gaze, her movements becoming a little flustered.
Gong Ziyu took the ladle from her hand. “Go sit down. I’ll do it.”
Yun Weishan withdrew her hand. “How can that be?”
“I’m afraid of the cold. It’s warmer near the stove.”
“Nonsense…”
It was clearly just an excuse, but Gong Ziyu didn’t say more. He began adding herbs and seasonings to the porridge, stirring evenly with the ladle. Yun Weishan had no choice but to sit down nearby, quietly watching the tall young man cook the porridge and add firewood. His back was broad, his movements gentle, and surprisingly skilled.
The clinking of pots and bowls under his hands added a touch of mundane warmth. The fire burned brightly, reflected in Yun Weishan’s eyes, yet within that brightness lay a trace of sorrow, like the motionless gray clouds in a winter sky.
The simple comforts of three meals a day, the peace of four seasons—she had once yearned for such things too.
Back in Wufeng, the training days felt endlessly long.
They didn’t even have proper rooms; the girls slept side by side on makeshift beds in the cold, dark corridors.
The nights were long, and even when day broke, no sunlight ever reached that place.
Back then, she and her sworn sister Yun Que would lie side by side, huddled together, whispering quietly.
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