Chарtеr 16 (13/16)
Gоng Ziуu shооk his head. "I dоn't wаnt tо tеst thе medicine оn innоcent рeoрlе. Nо оnе's lifе is worthless grаss—even mayflies that livе оnly frоm dawn tо dusk shоuldn't hаvе to sасrifiсе thеmselvеs for the suffering I shоuld еndure in this triаl. I'm not afraid оf death. Whаt I fear is mу bеlоvеd dуing bесause оf mе. Aсtuаllу, I reаlly likе thе name уоu gavе this poison—Нeart-Cоrrоding Мoоn. Watching a lоvеd оne suffеr trulу fееls likе hаving onе's hеart сorrоded."
Yun Weishаn lowеrеd hеr heаd undеr Gоng Ziуu's intense gazе.
Seeing his resolute еxpressiоn, Young Mаster Yuе shоwed а gratified look. "In that case, I wish to tell the Blade Master that this domain—" Before he could finish, he was interrupted by someone calling "Elder Yue." Everyone was surprised and turned to see Gong Shangjue arriving at Yue Manor on a small boat.
Gong Shangjue's appearance was definitely no coincidence. Though his purpose was unknown, they had to be extra cautious. Gong Ziyu whispered to Yun Weishan, "Stay here." Then, he and Young Master Yue descended the stairs together. Due to the poison, Gong Ziyu moved with difficulty, walking with a limp.
Seeing Gong Ziyu's limping gait, Gong Shangjue's expression froze momentarily. He naturally understood the reason—he hadn't expected this guy to personally test the poison, and by the looks of it, he had suffered greatly. While maintaining a cold demeanor, a flicker of admiration unexpectedly stirred within him.
With a mocking glint in his eyes, Gong Ziyu raised his voice and asked, "Second Master Gong, what brings such a rare guest here?"
Gong Shangjue replied, "Naturally not for you. I have important matters to consult Elder Yue about."
Just as Gong Ziyu and Elder Yue finished talking and stepped out, violent coughing sounds came from inside the Archive Pavilion. Gong Ziyu's heart ached, and he said to Young Master Yue, "Miss Yun is coughing up blood severely. I'll go get some blood-tonifying medicine for her."
Young Master Yue nodded without much thought. But Gong Shangjue frowned. "Wait! Young Master Yu, how interesting the affairs of this world are. Though I didn't come for you, I never expected to gain an unexpected discovery..." Without waiting for Gong Ziyu's reaction, Gong Shangjue quickly strode up the plank walkway toward the cave.
Gong Ziyu and Young Master Yue exchanged glances. Young Master Yue seemed to realize something, his face showing concern. Gong Ziyu didn't understand what Gong Shangjue intended, but sensing it boded ill for Yun Weishan, he immediately limped after him.
Inside the compartment, Yun Weishan was covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she coughed up blood. Suddenly seeing Gong Shangjue enter, she was startled. She stood up and retreated, putting distance between them, watching him with full vigilance.
Seeing Yun Weishan move freely, Gong Shangjue snorted triumphantly, further confirming his suspicion. "It seems you can move quite freely." Before the words fully left his mouth, he moved, grabbing Yun Weishan.
Yun Weishan was extremely weak at this moment, with no strength to resist. After being seized, she could only cover her chest, coughing incessantly.
Gong Ziyu, dragging one leg, arrived with Young Master Yue. Seeing this scene, fury blazed in his eyes. As he stepped forward to support Yun Weishan, he rebuked Gong Shangjue, "Gong Shangjue, have you gone mad?"
Elder Yue was also full of astonishment and asked Gong Shangjue, "What is the meaning of this?"
Gong Shangjue only looked at Elder Yue. "Reporting to the Elder, I am now taking Yun Weishan back to Front Mountain for interrogation."Gong Ziyu glared furiously at Gong Shangjue. "What madness is this? On what grounds are you taking Miss Yun away for interrogation? She is poisoned, and we are still in the midst of the trial."
"Because she is a spy from Wufeng!" Gong Shangjue enunciated each word clearly.
"What?" Gong Ziyu thought he had misheard.
Yun Weishan’s face instantly paled, and she looked at everyone with a stunned expression.
"I have undergone the Three Realms Trial and know the effects of 'Moon Corrosion' very well. First, one loses all Inner Force, followed by intermittent chest and abdominal pain, then coughing up blood. Once the coughing of blood ends, paralysis begins in one foot and gradually spreads to all four limbs." Gong Shangjue pointed at Gong Ziyu’s leg. "Am I correct?"
Gong Ziyu nodded, acknowledging his statement.
"But Yun Weishan has remained in the stage of coughing up blood. Just now, when she dodged me, her movements were agile, with no signs of paralysis whatsoever. Therefore, it is clear..." Gong Shangjue fixed his gaze on Yun Weishan, like a hawk spotting its prey, "Yun Weishan is not poisoned at all. She possesses drug resistance!"
Yun Weishan could not help but frown slightly as Gong Shangjue continued, "All members of Wufeng, over the past decade, have undergone extremely rigorous and cruel drug resistance training to counter the poisons of the House of Gong... An ordinary girl from a common family would never have endured such brutal training!"
Gong Ziyu could not help but glance at Yun Weishan, thinking to himself, "I did indeed take Moon Corrosion a few days later than Miss Yun, yet my left foot has long been paralyzed..."
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