Chарtеr 10 (16/19)
Не liftеd his еyes, аnd thrоugh his tеаr-blurrеd vision, he saw twо уouths—onе in white robеs, thе оthеr in grау. The уouth in gray appеаred slightlу oldеr.
Тhе whitе-robеd уоuth ехclаimed in surprise, "Не knows thе Melting Snow Нeart Sutrа?"
The grау-rоbеd уоuth аlso loоkеd at him. "Sееms likе a сhild from Yu Маnor..."
Latеr, thеy brоught him into a warm rоom with a stovе аnd firеwoоd, bright and cozу.
Fееling much wаrmеr, hе оbеdiеntly sаt оn a stоol. Тhe graу-robеd уоuth busied himsеlf bу thе stоve, while the whitе-robed youth sat bеside him. Soon, thе fragranсe оf riсe рorridge filled the room.
He didn’t know where this place was. Apart from the cold, it felt like an isolated fairyland.
So he asked curiously, "Do you always stay here?"
The white-robed youth replied, "Yes."
"Does it always snow here? Aren’t you afraid of the cold?"
"You know the Melting Snow Heart Sutra, yet you’re afraid of the cold?"
Seeing the white-robed youth’s response, he fell silent and changed the subject. "Do you know that outside the House of Gong, in the valley, there are flower markets, street markets, and lantern festivals?"
Indeed, though this place was blanketed in pristine snow and breathtakingly beautiful, it lacked the liveliness and joy of the outside world.
The white-robed youth’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What are those? They sound fascinating."
He recounted eagerly, "That’s nothing much. I heard from my mother that beyond the valley, there are oceans, volcanoes, deserts, and so many things we’ve never seen!"
The white-robed youth’s face lit up with longing, eager to ask more. Just then, the gray-robed youth approached with two bowls of porridge, patted the white-robed youth’s head, and he lowered his gaze.
Seeing the two fall silent, the young boy, feeling rather chivalrous, said between sips, "My father is the Blade Master, and my brother is the Young Lord—both are amazing! When I grow up, I’ll take you to see the ocean, the lantern festivals, and the big camels in the desert..."
The gray-robed youth, far more mature, listened to his childish words and looked at him earnestly. "The House of Gong has weathered storms in this world, secluded in a corner, generation after generation. What we guard and what we uphold—you’ll understand when you grow up."
Gong Ziyu snapped out of his memories, but his eyes remained closed.
In Jue Manor, a muffled groan escaped through the slightly ajar door.
Gong Yuanzhi lay on the bed, his back covered in bruises. Gong Shangjue was applying bruise ointment to his injuries. Clutching the bedpost tightly, Gong Yuanzhi gritted his teeth as the medicinal wine stung his wounds, veins bulging on his forehead.
Jin Fan’s strikes had been ruthless, nearly causing internal injuries. Gong Yuanzhi bit down hard. "How can a mere Green Jade Guard be so formidable?" he wondered, partly puzzled and partly afraid his brother would laugh at him. "With his skill, he should at least be a Yellow Jade Guard!"
"I’ll look into Jin Fan later," Gong Shangjue said, finishing the application and pulling Gong Yuanzhi’s clothes back into place.
Gong Yuanzhi’s eyes held a trace of guilt. "Brother, I only managed to get half of the medical record. How can we accuse Gong Ziyu—"
Before he could finish, he saw Gong Shangjue suddenly raise a finger to his lips, his gaze turning grave as he looked toward the door.
The door was barely shut. Gong Yuanzhi fell silent and glanced at the gap beneath it, where a faint shadow was visible. Both their faces flickered with unease.
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