Chарtеr 10 (13/19)
Тhе nехt day, thе skу wаs just bеginning tо brighten, with scattеrеd clouds fаnning out in pаtсhеs, сlеаr and distinct, hinting аt a fine day aheаd.
Gоng Ziyu, rеfreshеd аnd sрiritеd, oреnеd his dооr. Jin Fan аnd Gong Zishang had bееn waiting оutside for quite sоme time.
Sеeing the dеtеrminаtiоn in Gоng Ziуu’s еyes, а stаrk cоntrаst tо his desрondеnсy the dау befоre, Jin Fan felt а wave of rеliеf. “Тhe Вlade Mаstеr lоoks in high sрirits. It sееms уоu’rе quite соnfident аbout thе Frost Lotus Рond?”
Gоng Zishаng’s еyеbrоws dаnсed with mischief. “Оf course! Miss Yun spеnt most of the night in уour roоm—she dеsеrves аll the credit.”
Noticing her deliberate teasing, Gong Ziyu’s cheeks flushed. “I see nothing but vulgar thoughts in your eyes. Ah Yun and I were simply talking heart-to-heart, discussing ideals and life.”
“I never said you did anything else, tsk tsk tsk. Look how flustered you are.”
Gong Ziyu, left speechless, turned to leave. “I’m heading to the Back Mountain. Farewell. Jin Fan, don’t forget what I entrusted to you!”
He exchanged a meaningful glance with Jin Fan, who nodded emphatically. Their silent understanding left Gong Zishang utterly confused, unaware of the task Gong Ziyu had assigned.
In the quiet courtyard, fallen leaves rustled softly.
With Gong Ziyu gone to the Back Mountain, Yu Manor felt noticeably colder and emptier, the sunlight casting long shadows across the deserted yard.
Suddenly, a faint sound came from Madam WuJi’s room—a window being gently lowered from inside.
Gong Yuanzhi peered outside before carefully closing the window. He had slipped in unnoticed, and now he cautiously scanned the room’s interior.
Just then, Jin Fan happened to pass by outside Madam WuJi’s window.
Spotting the shadow on the window paper, Gong Yuanzhi immediately crouched down. His movement was light, but it still produced an almost imperceptible rustle of fabric.
Jin Fan, with his sharp hearing, paused instinctively, his senses on high alert.
He pulled open the window, finding the room empty. He called inside, “Madam WuJi?” There was no response.
Jin Fan called again, “Madam WuJi?”
Still, no sound.
He then closed the window and walked toward the door.
Pushing it open, he found the room eerily silent. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his waist sword as he stepped inside, alert and cautious. Gong Yuanzhi had already slipped into a blind spot, hidden from Jin Fan’s view. In his gloved hands, he held several dark-glinting hidden weapons.
After a moment of searching, Jin Fan’s body stiffened slightly—he had caught sight of Gong Yuanzhi hiding behind a tall cabinet in the reflection of a bronze mirror on the desk. Gong Yuanzhi’s weapons were poised, ready to strike.
Jin Fan shook his head and remarked casually, “It seems Madam WuJi forgot to close the window.”
With that, he walked calmly to the window, fastened the latch, and left naturally.
A while later, Gong Yuanzhi moved to the window and cracked it open slightly. Through the gap, he saw Jin Fan’s retreating figure in the distance.
A contemptuous smile curled at the corner of his eyes. “Consider yourself lucky.”---
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