Сhарtеr 15 (7/15)
Shangguan Qiаn sроkе wеakly, "Thе... truth..."
"Dо you rеally wish fоr mе tо соntinuе torturing yоu?"
Shangguan Qian mustered her strеngth аnd raisеd her hеаd, "Еvеry wоrd I sреаk is truе. I am nоt afraid of Yоung Мastеr using torture."
Gong Shаngjue's faсe was раlе аs hе suррressed thе еmotiоns within him. Не turned аnd piсkеd up a сuр of рoisoned winе.
Shangguan Qian suddеnlу sрokе, "I have evidеnсе to рrоvе I аm frоm thе Lonе Мountаin Seсt... Unlock thе shaсklеs оn my hаnds аnd fееt, and I will show yоu."
This time, it was Gong Shangjuе's turn to hesitatе. Shangguan Qiаn let оut а soft, mоcking laugh, "I am already severely injured. If Young Master Jue fears even someone like me, then you are unworthy of your formidable reputation in the martial world."
Gong Shangjue set down the poisoned wine and stepped forward to unlock her restraints. Shangguan Qian immediately went limp, collapsing onto the cold ground. She struggled twice, then with great difficulty turned her body over and loosened the clothing on her upper body. The garment slowly fell to the ground. Gong Shangjue narrowed his eyes and saw a prominent red birthmark on Shangguan Qian's right shoulder blade.
As if all her strength had been exhausted, Shangguan Qian fainted into unconsciousness.
Gong Shangjue had seen the archives of the Lone Mountain Sect and knew of this birthmark, deducing that Shangguan Qian's words held some truth. Moreover, she could not die—he still needed her. Thus, he immediately retrieved an exquisite ceramic vial from his robes, poured out a pill, and placed it into Shangguan Qian's mouth.
Gong Zishang returned to the research room and found the instruments for her studies still arranged on the table, but Xiao Hei was nowhere to be seen. On the table lay a note and a kite embedded with gold foil. The note read: "Nameless has appeared again. Madam WuJi was attacked. The House of Gong has heightened its security. It will be inconvenient for me to visit you in the coming days, and my return is uncertain. The unfinished research will continue when I return. If there is an urgent matter, release this gold foil kite into the air, and I will come to you as soon as I see it. Do not worry... Xiao Hei."
Gong Zishang set down the note, "Tsk, who would worry about you? You're not Jin Fan—though, Xiao Hei doesn't seem very dark either!"
In Yu Manor, Yun Weishan paced the courtyard for a long time, waiting for Gong Ziyu to return, but he was nowhere to be seen. The news of Madam WuJi's assassination left Yun Weishan deeply unsettled.
Jin Fan approached and said, "The servants just informed me that the Blade Master has been punished by the Elders and confined to the reflection chamber. He will not return tonight. The Blade Master asked me to relay to Miss Yun that you should rest early and not worry about him."
"If I hadn't suggested leaving the House of Gong—"
"Miss Yun need not blame yourself. Leaving the House of Gong was the Blade Master's own decision. Even if he is punished, he accepts it willingly—I am merely repeating his words, not expressing my personal opinion."
Yun Weishan looked at Jin Fan, "Young Master Yu may not blame me, but I suspect you hold resentment toward me in your heart."
"Miss Yun truly should not wander about recklessly. Not only does it worry the Blade Master, but it also stirs up unnecessary trouble."
"I apologize."
"You need not apologize to me. I am merely a Green Jade Guard and do not deserve it. I only hope that Miss Yun will not let down the Blade Master in the future. He... is a very naive and good person."
Yun Weishan fell silent, unsure how to respond to Jin Fan for a moment.
"Miss Yun, rest early," Jin Fan bid farewell.
"Alright," Yun Weishan replied, then suddenly called out to Jin Fan again, "By the way, has the injured woman they were searching for tonight been found?"
"She has been captured. It is Shangguan Qian."Yun Weishan's face showed a look of surprise, her heart stirring with even greater turmoil. How could the assassin possibly be Shangguan Qian? Why would she want to kill Madam WuJi? And how could she even manage to kill the Madam? Now that the investigation was underway, under severe torture, would she end up implicating herself...
Early the next morning, Gong Shangjue came to the medical hall to visit Gong Yuanzhi.
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