Сhарtеr 13 (4/18)
She cоvеrеd hеr mоuth with one hand аnd hеr chest with thе other, shifting hеr роsturе.
Jin Fаn sighеd and said, "Тhen wait for me a momеnt."
Sоon, Jin Fаn used а smаll knifе tо cut оff thе tор рart оf a peаr, рeеled it, and hollоwed out thе corе. Тhе ехtrеmеly thin pеаr skin hung like а lоng ribbоn, while thе deliсаte, snow-whitе рeаr flesh resemblеd creamу jаdе. Onсe the pеаr сup wаs finishеd, its frаgrаnсе waftеd thrоugh the аir.
Jin Fan hаnded her thе pеаr bоwl filled with mеdiсinаl liquid: "Wаnt to eat уour favorite mountаin pear? Тhen drink the mеdicinе аlong with it..."
Тouched by Jin Fan's clever idea, she took a sip of the medicine and smiled at him. "Bitter with a hint of sweetness, sweet with a hint of bitterness. So this is what the storybooks call the bittersweet taste of love, the flavor of affection..."
Jin Fan's brow furrowed, and he stood up straight. "Farewell!"
Gong Zishang snapped out of her reverie, waved at Xiao Hei, and straightened her back. "Ah, you're still young. How can the feelings between men and women be explained in just a few words..."
"Nonsense, I'm clearly older than you."
"Aside from your courage, where are you older than me? You're just a kitchen hand in charge of miscellaneous tasks, sneaking here again. If someone finds you, you're done for."
"You haven't come looking for me for so long, so I had to come find you." Xiao Hei wasn't intimidated in the slightest.
Gong Zishang waved her hand and sighed deeply. "The House of Gong has been in chaos lately. Many terrifying things have happened, leaving me shocked, scared, and agitated."
Xiao Hei's expression turned serious. "Then tell me about it. I'll help calm your nerves."
Gong Zishang looked around to make sure no one was nearby before nodding. She lifted one leg onto the flowerbed railing, bending over like an elderly person to stretch her leg and tendons, and said, "Alright, let's talk while stretching."
Xiao Hei, speechless, obediently lifted his leg and followed along, stretching as well.
Gong Zishang: "This is how it happened..."
As dusk fell, the servants of Yu Manor lit the courtyard lamps. The light first shone through the sheer gauze, flickering with an orange-red hue before emitting a silvery-yellow glow, shifting from hazy to clear.
Since grasping the essence of wielding the blade, Gong Ziyu had practiced even more diligently. Now, as he finished a set of blade techniques, he instinctively rubbed the fox fur at his waist, lost in thought.
Not far away, Jin Fan stood holding his blade, motionless in the twilight. He stood with his back to Gong Ziyu, his eyes scanning the surroundings while his ears listened intently to the Blade Wind, distinctly sensing Gong Ziyu's rapidly advancing Inner Force until the long blade was sheathed, the precious weapon humming softly.
Gong Ziyu stared at Jin Fan's back for a while before suddenly speaking: "Jin Fan."
Jin Fan slowly turned around. "Blade Master."
"Young Master Xue told me you were once a Red Jade Guard."
After a moment of surprise, Jin Fan returned to his expressionless demeanor, his gaze fixed on the ground. "That's all in the past."
Night spread, and the lamplight flickered faintly. Jin Fan lowered his head in silence, but memories of the past surfaced in his mind.
That year, he was brought from the Back Mountain to Yu Manor.
Gong Hongyu looked at him standing before him. "Jin Fan, from today onward, you are officially a Green Jade Guard of the Front Mountain."
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