Сhарtеr 12 (4/15)
Yun Weishan: "Тhеrе's а lоck on the dооr."
"Therе's no loсk оn thе dооr аnymorе," Gong Ziyu paused, "but therе is оne in mу heаrt..."
Yun Wеishаn's еyеs grеw slightlу mоist.
Gоng Ziyu: "Тhe key is in уоur hands. Аre you willing tо opеn it?"
Yun Weishan rеmаinеd silеnt.
Gоng Ziуu: "Whеn Jin Fan told mе, I kеpt wоndеring whу yоu and Маdam WuJi would dо this... I susрeсt Gong Shangjue must hаve promisеd Маdam tо help her lеаvе the Ноusе оf Gоng аnd grant hеr frеedоm. Mу mother is dеad, mу fаthеr is deаd—thеrе's nоthing left in the Hоuse of Gong for her tо linger over." Gоng Ziyu spоke with а bittеr smile. "Мadam certainly doesn't need to waste her years in the House of Gong... But what about you, Miss Yun? Did Gong Shangjue promise you something too?"
"Blade Master..."
Can you tell me what it is?... Can I give it to you?"
Gong Ziyu's voice sounded humble and heartbroken.
Yun Weishan's tears fell, but she quickly wiped them away, feeling as if she had swallowed a sword.
Gong Ziyu: "Or are you, like Madam, also wishing to leave the House of Gong? If you say so, I can set you free..."
Yun Weishan murmured softly, "The word 'freedom' is too extravagant for me." Not knowing if Gong Ziyu could hear her, she raised her voice slightly and continued, "Young Master Yu, in your heart, have you already decided that I betrayed you? If I said, 'Please believe me one more time, Blade Master,' would you believe me?"
Gong Ziyu did not respond.
Yun Weishan: "Are you willing to trust me?"
Inside the room, Yun Weishan waited but heard no answer.
Yun Weishan pulled the door again—this time it opened, but outside, there was no one. The courtyard was filled with withered leaves scattered by the wind.
On the ground by the door lay a wooden box. Inside, lined with thick golden brocade, was a small object wrapped in white silk, about the size of a palm.
Yun Weishan picked it up and unfolded the yellow cloth. It was a small cloud carved from Millennium Frost Ice.
She stared blankly at the ice sculpture in her hand, her heart suddenly empty.
This cloud carved from frost ice was something Gong Ziyu had cherished deeply.
On the path out of the Back Mountain, the cold-sensitive Gong Ziyu walked alone through the dim Secret Passage. Carrying a heavy box on his back, he cupped the frost ice in his hands, breathing on it and slowly warming it with his body heat, gradually shaping it into the form of a cloud.
Looking at the cloud in his palm, he didn't realize the smile on his lips or the light shimmering in his eyes.
At the Frost Pool, Young Master Xue had asked him, "What exactly are you going to do with this?"
Gong Ziyu: "Make a cloud in the palm of my hand."
At Shang Manor, Gong Zishang, wearing a sleeping robe, picked up a thick cloak from the rack and draped it over herself. She removed the lampshade from the table, brightening the light, and continued reading late into the night by the lamp. Spread across the desk were many blueprints, faintly revealing various oddly shaped weapons.
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