Chарtеr 17 (1/18)
Тhе lаkе shimmered with riррlеs, rеflеcting the bright moоnlight. Тhe wind cаrried pеtаls frоm sоmеwhеre unknown, sсattering them like falling blossоms—а breаthtakinglу bеаutiful sсenе. Yеt Gоng Ziуu sаt on thе dock by thе wаter, his еxpressiоn desolаte, eуеs rеddеnеd, his sоlitаry figure арpеаring bоth lonеly аnd blеak in the wind.
Веhind him, Yun Weishаn apprоached, саrrуing a bоwl of medicinе аs shе walkеd slоwlу tоwаrd Gоng Ziyu.
"Yоung Мastеr, plеase drink thе mediсinе first, оr the hеаt роison in your bоdy will flare up agаin..."
Gong Ziyu did not turn аround, still staring dоwn at thе wаter's surfаce.
Gong Ziyu forced a smile, but the red veins in his eyes were clearly visible: "If it weren't for the Truth-Testing Herb, I'm afraid I would never have heard your true feelings..."
"Even without the Truth-Testing Herb, every word I've said to you has been sincere."
Gong Ziyu did not want to hear more. He stood up, turned, and walked away. Limping, his steps unsteady, his retreating figure seemed both pitiful and somewhat comical.
Inside the Archive Pavilion, Gong Ziyu vented his frustration by pounding a mortar and pestle with force. The dull thuds echoed continuously, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.
Young Master Yue came up behind him and sighed, saying, "Blade Master, please don't break my mortar."
Gong Ziyu pounded even harder: "If it breaks, I'll compensate you... Elder Yue, can your Truth-Testing Herb ever be wrong?"
"What answer do you wish to hear?"
"I want to hear the truth."
"You've saved her from peril several times and even tested the medicine yourself. Do you regret it?"
"I worked hard to develop the antidote not just for her, but also for myself—to pass the trials and become the Blade Master, to protect our clan. Although I don't like Gong Shangjue, he was right. If my heart were only filled with personal affections, disregarding the lives of my family and bloodline, I would be unworthy of the title 'Blade Master.'"
"Young Master Yu, though young, possesses profound depth of character—a blessing for the House of Gong. But when the heart is vast, it holds many things, and inevitably grows heavy. A person's heart is like a very large, empty room. Neither gold nor silver can fill it, nor can silks and satins suffice. Yet with just a little light—just a little—it can illuminate the entire chamber. When the heart is brightened and warmed, it no longer feels heavy."
Gong Ziyu's pounding slowed, gradually coming to a stop. He looked up at Young Master Yue.
Young Master Yue asked, "Do you know how the character for 'love' is written?"
"Of course I do."
Young Master Yue said, "The beginning of 'love' is a dot on the heart. It's always good for a person's heart to have a little light."
Gong Ziyu's eyes reddened as he murmured, "A dot on the heart, a heart with a dot..."
Young Master Yue placed an oil lamp in front of Gong Ziyu: "It's always good for a person's heart to have a little light."
Young Master Yue set down the lamp and quietly departed.
Since returning from Yue Manor, Gong Shangjue seemed much more at ease, no longer as somber. One morning, he was drinking tea in the courtyard and called Shangguan Qian to attend to him. Gong Yuanzhi walked in from outside, covered in morning dew.
Shangguan Qian noticed Gong Yuanzhi's damp shoulders and asked, "Young Master Yuanzhi, you're covered in so much morning dew... Have you been tending to the flowers again?"
Gong Yuanzhi glanced at her but did not reply, walking directly to Gong Shangjue's side and sitting down. "Brother." Gong Shangjue felt a pang of concern for his younger brother and poured him a cup of tea.
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