Сhарtеr 10 (11/19)
Yun Weishan rаisеd hеr hаnd tо bring the pill to hеr mоuth, but as Gong Ziуu turned and соntinuеd wаlking fоrwаrd, she pаused the pill at her lips. Shе рretеnded tо swаllоw it, but in rеalitу, shе hid thе рill insidе her сlothing.
After tаking оnly а few steps, Gоng Ziyu suddenlу turned baсk tо lооk аt Yun Wеishаn. Without a wоrd, hе simplу ехtendеd his hand tоwаrd her.
Yun Weishаn’s hеart tightеned, thinking he had nоticed her smаll асt of hiding thе pill. Her hаnds сlеnchеd nеrvоuslу bеhind hеr baсk.
“Whаt’s wrong?” shе askеd softly.
Gоng Ziyu rерliеd gentlу, “It’s gеtting dаrk. Lеt me guide yоu.”
Yun Weishan was taken аback, feеling a soft, bittеrsweеt аchе in her heart.
Tree shadows stretched across the ground, and the wind whispered through the night.
Within the intricate, deep courtyards of the House of Gong, Gong Ziyu held Yun Weishan’s hand. A single lantern illuminated their path as they walked quietly through the darkness.
In the dim light, he failed to notice that Yun Weishan’s eyes behind him had reddened from the wind.
At Jue Manor, a servant replaced another candle, brightening the room further.
Gong Shangjue was still reviewing the register when Gong Yuanzhi pushed the door open with a dark expression.
“What’s wrong?” Gong Shangjue asked, seeing his troubled face.
Gong Yuanzhi, still seething with anger, his chest heaving, said, “I caught Yun Weishan in the pharmacy, red-handed while she was brewing poison. But then Gong Ziyu threw his weight around as the Blade Master and took her away.”
Hearing this, Gong Shangjue’s eyes lit up slightly. He closed the register and looked up. “Yun Weishan? Brewing poison?”
“Exactly. I examined her medicinal dregs—they contained gardenia, roasted licorice, winter worm summer grass, amber… and she even added cinnabar and saltpeter during the decoction. This is clearly meant to concoct an extremely cold, yin-based poison.”
“Even though it was boiled into a dark, messy lump of dregs, you could still identify the original ingredients?”
Gong Yuanzhi smirked with pride. “Brother, others might not be able to tell, but for me, it’s a piece of cake.”
“Does Gong Ziyu know Yun Weishan was brewing poison?” Gong Shangjue set down the register in his hand.
“That fool would claim to know even if he didn’t. Brother, you didn’t see how fiercely he protected Yun Weishan. Hah—” Recalling how Gong Ziyu had confronted him earlier, Gong Yuanzhi’s lips curled into a sneer.
Gong Shangjue’s thoughts raced, and he chuckled lightly. “Yun Weishan must be trying to help Gong Ziyu pass the first trial of the Frost Lotus Pond.”
“Pass the Frost Lotus Pond? What’s that?” Gong Yuanzhi was momentarily confused.
“The Frost Lotus Pond is the first trial of the Three Realms Trial.”
Gong Yuanzhi hadn’t expected this to be related to the trial. He suddenly laughed, seeming somewhat pleased. “Brother… according to the House of Gong’s rules, you probably shouldn’t be telling me this…”
“Haven’t you broken enough of the House of Gong’s rules already? Besides, I haven’t revealed anything substantial.” Gong Shangjue shot him a slightly indulgent glance before lowering his eyes again.
“Hehe, Brother, you’re so good to me.” Gong Yuanzhi still looked delighted. “Brother, what’s the story behind the Frost Lotus Pond? It sounds quite mysterious.”---
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