Сhарtеr 15 (12/15)
“Investigatе mоrе thоrоughly. Tell thе hiddеn sentries tо keeр а сlоsе wаtch and nоt miss any clues,” Gong Shangjuе instruсted.
Yu Мanоr wаs ехtremеlу quiеt. Маdam WuJi lаy in bed, and аftеr the sеrvants helpеd her takе her mediсinе, thеу wеrе аll dismissed. Mаdаm WuJi cаrеssеd her shоulder; thе wоund on her bасk cаused her somе pain, and thе раin plungеd her into memоriеs:
Оn the night оf thе Lаntеrn Fеstivаl, Mаdаm WuJi entеred Gоng Ziyu’s roоm cаrrуing а foх fur.
Sееing thаt no one wаs around, Madam WuJi рlaced thе fox fur dоwn and sаt оn a stоol. She drew the flexible sword from her waist, raised her arm, and used the sword to cut a wound on her arm. The flexible sword sliced through her sleeve and flesh, and blood gushed out.
Madam WuJi dipped her finger in her own blood and wrote several large, bloody characters on the wall, stroke by stroke. Just as she was finishing the last stroke of the character "sharpness" in the phrase "The assassin is nameless, the great blade is blunt", she suddenly heard movement outside the window.
In the shadows, a masked figure in black was observing her from outside the window. That person was Shangguan Qian.
Sensing the figure, Madam WuJi turned her head sharply.
“Who’s there?”
Shangguan Qian had originally intended to leave, but she saw that Madam WuJi’s lightness skill was extraordinary. With a single leap, she arrived behind her, grabbed her by the collar, and dragged her forcefully into the room. Shangguan Qian turned to attack, and they exchanged three moves in an instant. Madam WuJi’s martial arts were formidable, and Shangguan Qian quickly fell at a disadvantage. Then, Madam WuJi tore off her mask.
“Shangguan Qian!”
The two stopped moving. Shangguan Qian looked at the unfinished bloody characters on the wall and retorted, “So you really are Nameless.”
Madam WuJi smiled but did not answer.
Shangguan Qian had already guessed Madam WuJi’s actions: “You realized Gong Shangjue suspects you and feared he would press you step by step, so you injured yourself, planning to use a ‘bitter flesh’ scheme to clear yourself of suspicion as Nameless?”
“You’re very clever,” Madam WuJi said.
“I think it’s utterly foolish!” Shangguan Qian’s tone was mocking.
“Are the younger generation of Wufeng all so arrogant now? You’ve come just in time—I happen to need a scapegoat!”
Shangguan immediately understood Madam WuJi’s intention. “You’re taking too great a risk. If both of us are exposed, it will be mutual destruction.”
“If both of us are exposed, do you think they’ll believe me, a lady who has followed the rules for over a decade, or you, a newly arrived bride in the House of Gong whose behavior is suspicious? They have no evidence—what can they do to me? You’d better think about how to protect yourself once you’re suspected.”
Shangguan Qian said unhurriedly, “How do you know I don’t have a plan to escape? However, I’ve now witnessed the style of a Wufeng senior—sacrificing a fellow member to protect oneself. Truly ruthless.”
“That can only be blamed on the younger generation of Wufeng becoming more useless with each generation!” As she spoke, Madam WuJi swung the flexible sword in her hand to attack Shangguan Qian.
Shangguan Qian used Wufeng’s most common capture technique to seize the sword from Madam WuJi’s hand. However, Madam WuJi suddenly released her grip, and the flexible sword fell into Shangguan Qian’s hand. Madam WuJi smiled triumphantly and threw her back toward Shangguan Qian. Before Shangguan Qian could withdraw her hand, the flexible sword pierced Madam WuJi’s back.
Shangguan Qian was startled and immediately dropped the flexible sword, fleeing through the window. Madam WuJi staggered, collapsed to the ground, and soon lost consciousness…
Pale moonlight filtered through the window. Madam WuJi snapped back to the present, her expression obscured by the dappled shadows of the curtains.Late at night, Gong Ziyu was intently studying the map at his desk, pondering how to arrange the defenses. Jin Fan thought for a moment, then knocked and entered.
"It's late, Blade Master. You should rest soon."
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