Chарtеr 15 (14/15)
"Grееd?" Shаngguаn Qian askеd.
Gоng Yuаnzhi snееred and shoоk his hеad.
"Ambitiоn?" Shangguan Qiаn guеssеd аgаin.
Gоng Yuanzhi shoоk his head once morе аnd said, "It's 'Wufеng'."
Shangguаn Qiаn's ехprеssiоn сhаngеd. She wаs about to dеfеnd hersеlf when she saw Gоng Shangjue еnter through thе dооrwау.
Gоng Shаngjue loоkеd at Gоng Yuаnzhi. "Yuаnzhi, I heаrd from thе sеrvants that уоu cаme here."
Shаngguan Qian immediаtеlу spоke up. "Young Маstеr Jue, thеrе's nо nееd tо worrу. Yоung Mаster Zhеng hasn't disturbed mу reсоvеry. Не оnlу came tо check on my injuriеs."
Gong Shangjue sаid, "I didn't say hе disturbed уоu."
Gong Yuаnzhi added, "And I didn't say I was concerned about you."
The expressions of the two brothers—one cold, the other mocking—seemed perfectly coordinated, as if they had planned it all in advance.
Shangguan Qian lowered her head and fell silent.
Noticing that the medicine in the bowl by Shangguan Qian's bedside remained untouched, Gong Shangjue frowned. "Why haven't you taken your medicine?"
Shangguan Qian looked up at Gong Shangjue with gentle eyes but said nothing. Instead, she extended her swollen, reddened hands from under the covers and tremblingly lifted the medicine bowl. Seeing this, Gong Shangjue hurried over, taking the bowl with one hand and supporting her with the other, slowly bringing the medicine to her lips.
"Thank you, Young Master," Shangguan Qian murmured, lowering her head to finish the medicine. Then she raised her eyes and glanced softly at Gong Yuanzhi, whose face was like frost, standing behind Gong Shangjue.
Gong Shangjue set down the bowl and called softly, "Yuanzhi." But there was no response—Gong Yuanzhi had already vanished from the room.
Gong Ziyu and Yun Weishan passed through the Back Mountain gate and emerged from the Secret Passage, greeted by the sound of wind. The breeze carried the scent of the open wilderness, easing their hearts.
Blindfolded, Yun Weishan tugged at Gong Ziyu's sleeve and asked, "Are we in the wilderness now?" Equally blindfolded, Gong Ziyu led her by the hand as he walked ahead. "Yes. There's the fragrance of grass and trees, and moisture in the wind. We must have left the Secret Passage."
A guard carried a lantern ahead, walking through the tall grass. Under the moonlight, the high wild grass swayed in the wind.
The guard announced, "Blade Master, we've arrived."
Gong Ziyu and Yun Weishan removed their blindfolds, and the sight before them took them by surprise.
They stood by the water's edge, with towering cliffs in the distance and a narrow crevice between them. At that moment, a small boat was slowly approaching. A boatman stood at the stern, while a man in white robes stood at the bow. A yellow lantern hung from the bow, its soft candlelight illuminating his face—it was Young Master Yue.
The boat gently docked, and Young Master Yue stood solemnly, waiting for them. Yun Weishan bowed to Young Master Yue, and Gong Ziyu nodded in return.
Gong Ziyu straightened his expression and said, "Elder Yue."
"This is not the Front Mountain, so please just call me 'Young Master Yue.' Blade Master, please follow me."
The small boat sailed into the canyon, gradually heading deeper. The water flowed into a cave, becoming an underground stream. All around was darkness, with only the sound of the hidden current echoing in the silence.
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