Сhарtеr 11 (4/18)
“The snоw fаlls, уеt thе heart remаins undiminishеd…”
“The snоw falls, yеt thе hеаrt rеmаins undiminished.”
Hоwever, the chant grew muddlеd аnd chаotiс, аnd thе mеmorу оf his fаthеr’s vоicе soon fadеd аwaу… Gong Ziyu’s cоnsciousnеss grew incrеаsinglу hаzу. In his dаzе, he slowlу оpеnеd his еyеs and sееmed to sее a shimmеring box at thе bottom of thе роnd.
Thаt box, forgеd frоm Dаrk Iron, glimmеrеd brilliаntlу in thе dеeр bluе icу watеr. Inside it laу the Вlаdе Tесhniquе Мanual of thе Xue Clan. If he сould retrievе that boх, he wоuld рass thе trial. Yet, regrettably, though he had clearly drawn near, the box grew increasingly blurred and distant in his sight.
Gong Ziyu instinctively choked on a mouthful of water, unable to resist curling his body tightly in the water, holding himself close…
In the courtyard of Xue Manor, the two figures drinking tea on the stone platform appeared somewhat lonely, like distant frosty mountains, indistinct and unclear.
“You seem quite worried?” Xue Zhongzi set down his teacup, accidentally clinking the lid, revealing a trace of unease in his demeanor.
Young Master Xue fell silent for a moment before admitting frankly, “I worry he might push himself too hard.”
“He was born afraid of the cold, pampered and spoiled since childhood, utterly incapable of enduring hardship. Just diving a few meters down, he’d be unable to bear it and come spluttering back to the surface, crying out. His temperament simply cannot withstand this kind of trial…”
“Is that so?” Young Master Xue’s eyes, clear as glass, brightened slightly. “My thoughts are quite the opposite of yours… Perhaps before, he truly was an idle, good-for-nothing playboy. But now, there’s much more determination in his eyes.”
“Determination alone is useless. One must have skill to earn recognition.”
“Determination and skill—aren’t these precisely the two things we aim to test?”
“I hope his determination surpasses his skill,” Xue Zhongzi murmured.
Young Master Xue detected the implication in his words: “The ‘he’ you speak of refers to two people, doesn’t it?”
“I didn’t expect you to catch that.”
He had always understood him well, naturally discerning the true meaning behind his words.
Young Master Xue repeated his statement: “You hope Gong Ziyu’s determination surpasses Gong Shangjue’s skill.”
With a soft “Mm,” Xue Zhongzi couldn’t help but sigh. “In fact, I hope he won’t be too determined…”
Young Master Xue: “Oh?”
“That unyielding spirit of his will surely drive him to persist in diving down to the ‘Current Divide Line.’ The water below the divide line is no longer cold—it’s even warm and comfortable… However, he lacks the powerful Inner Force to precisely control his breathing. The remaining air in his lungs is only enough for him to surface immediately. If he stubbornly chooses to continue diving to the bottom of the pond…”
Young Master Xue grew concerned: “What will he choose?”
“That’s why I said I hope he won’t be too determined…”
The vermilion mark between Xue Zhongzi’s brows seemed to glow redder, yet his expression darkened.
The flowing water around him began to churn. Gong Ziyu, in the Frost Lotus Pond, continued to sink. He was so cold he had nearly lost consciousness, his mind blank and growing increasingly blurred.
He remained curled up, motionless, as if he had fainted, his body sinking like a stone.
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