My Journey to You

Chарtеr 15 (6/15)

Gоng Shаngjuе рicked uр оnе оf thе wine cups: "It sееms we havеn't reaсhеd this stер уеt." He sеt down the cup and, with keеn intеrest, tоok оut sоmеthing rеsembling а sраtulа knifе. Its bladе was exсеptiоnally sharр, seeminglу still stained with driеd blасk blооd.

"Yоu'vе alreаdу endurеd thе whiр and thе finger рrеss, but this is only thе bеginning. This rаzor blade in mу hand is tough and shаrр, fоrged bу the Housе оf Gоng using the сrаftsmаnshiр fоr mаking hidden wеаpоns. It is cаlled the Сicаdа Rаzor, сараble of slicing еach piecе of flesh as thin аs a ciсadа's wing. Just оne lеg can take a full day and night to carve, making life worse than death."

Gong Shangjue then picked up a ferocious-looking mask: "This is the Butterfly Mask. When worn on the face, boiling hot oil is poured from above—"

Before he could finish, a clanking sound of chains rang out. Clearly, Shangguan Qian shrank back, her eyes revealing terror.

Gong Shangjue walked up to Shangguan Qian and lifted her chin with his hand: "Such a beautiful face, what a pity... And that row of small wine cups... Compared to Younger Brother Yuanzheng's poisoned wine, these razors and masks are nothing..."

Shangguan Qian's breathing grew rapid, sounding as if she were on the verge of tears, yet she remained silent.

"Believe me, you won't hold out. Just tell the truth, and I promise you won't suffer."

Shangguan Qian's eyes lit up, but her voice was faint as a thread: "Can you promise I won't die?"

Gong Shangjue took a deep breath, paused, and repeated: "I promise you won't suffer."

"If I speak, will Young Master believe me?"

"You speak your part, and I will judge for myself."

Shangguan Qian raised her head and said: "I am not a Wufeng Assassin, nor am I the Nameless you speak of. But... I am indeed not the daughter of the Shangguan family. I am an orphan of the Lone Mountain Sect... I entered the House of Gong only to protect myself."

Gong Shangjue was somewhat surprised: "The Lone Mountain Sect?"

"Yes... Back then, Unpolished Plum of the Gentle Wind Sect fell in love with my younger uncle, which met with strong opposition from the Gentle Wind Sect's leader, Dian Zhu. To force the Lone Mountain Sect to hand over my uncle, Dian Zhu, who had already pledged allegiance to Wufeng, led Wufeng Assassins to annihilate the Lone Mountain Sect in one fell swoop." As she spoke of this, Shangguan Qian's eyes filled with hatred.

"The entire Lone Mountain Sect was wiped out; I never heard of any survivors."

"My father hid me in a secret passage, and I narrowly survived. Later, I wandered homeless until I was fortunately rescued by the Shangguan family and raised by them. The Shangguan family was unwilling to send their daughter to the House of Gong. To repay their kindness in raising me and for my own sake, I impersonated Shangguan Qian and married in her place. I swore an oath to avenge my father and my clan. That year, on the Lantern Festival night, I encountered bandits, and you saved me. That's when I conceived the plan to enter the House of Gong to seek refuge. Only by relying on the power of the House of Gong could I possibly achieve my revenge."

"What does this have to do with your attempt to assassinate Gong Ziyu?"

"I wasn't trying to assassinate Gong Ziyu; my target was WuJi."

Gong Shangjue was somewhat surprised: "Why?""Because that day I heard you suspect WuJi might be Nameless, and every member of Wufeng is my enemy. ... I went to Yu Manor and found WuJi in Gong Ziyu's room. I secretly observed from outside the window, only to see WuJi holding a flexible sword in her hand—thin yet resilient, identical to the weapons commonly used by Wufeng. She stood before the bloody writing on the wall, and I became even more certain that WuJi was Nameless. However, I was also discovered by WuJi. Her martial arts surpass mine."

Gong Shangjue asked, "Since her martial arts are superior to yours, why was she injured by you?"

"WuJi threw herself onto the sword. She deliberately let go of her weapon, allowing me to seize it, and then lunged toward the sword in my hand..."

"You're saying she intentionally let herself be stabbed?" Gong Shangjue frowned, suddenly reaching out to grip the wound on Shangguan Qian's shoulder. The scab that had already formed broke open again, blood quickly staining Shangguan Qian's clothes.

Shangguan Qian let out a muffled groan, "Ah..."

Gong Shangjue revealed a sinister expression and asked once more, "Is everything you said the truth?"