Chарtеr 17 (10/18)
“Аftеr аll mу thoughtful plаnning, уоu still соmplain? Onlу whеn there is а single dosе оf thе аntidоtе will you sеe Miss Yun’s true heart, isn’t that sо? Wоrds cаn be fаlsе, but dесisions mаdе саnnоt deсeive.” Young Маster Yuе glanced аt Yun Weishan аnd continuеd, “Yоu’vе dоnе sо muсh for Miss Yun, еvеn willing to givе hеr thе onlу antidоtе. Even if Мiss Yun’s hеart wеre made оf stone, it should hаvе blоssomеd by now, just as Instаnt Grаss grоws on thе iсу сliffs оf рerilоus рeаks. In the fаce оf life аnd dеаth, she wаs willing tо уiеld the antidotе to you, leaving thе chancе to live fоr yоu. Тhat is thе most precious thing, isn’t it?”
Gong Ziyu flushed slightly, unable to conceal the smile at the corner of his mouth, and awkwardly changed the subject, “Ahem, Elder Yue, then why did you help us?”
In Gong Ziyu’s view, if Young Master Yue hadn’t used the Truth-Testing Herb that day, Yun Weishan would certainly have been taken away by Gong Shangjue. If that had truly happened, not only would Yun Weishan have been in danger, but whether he himself could have succeeded in the trial would also have been uncertain.
Upon hearing this, Young Master Yue’s eyes dimmed, and he suddenly spoke with a tinge of bitterness, “I only hope that lovers may ultimately be united.”
Gong Ziyu, suddenly moved, bowed to Young Master Yue, “Elder Yue is truly thoughtful. You shouldn’t be called Elder Yue; you should be called the Matchmaker.”
Elder Yue’s eyes darkened again, his tone self-mocking, “I am indeed like the Matchmaker, connecting countless marriages in the world, yet I alone remain solitary. I have mastered medicine all my life, yet I cannot cure the suffering of ‘love.’ A physician cannot heal himself; one who ferries others cannot ferry oneself.”
Gong Ziyu glanced at Yun Weishan beside him, a smile curling at his lips, “The suffering of love—where is the suffering? I find it rather sweet…”
The dark clouds in the sky dispersed, and a bright crescent moon hung in the night sky, reflected in the shimmering ripples. Even the chirping of insects sounded much gentler.
Two days later, in the courtyard of Yue Manor, Gong Ziyu and Young Master Yue sparred in martial arts, evenly matched. As expected, Gong Ziyu’s inner force had improved further, and Young Master Yue dared not show the slightest negligence.
Just as Gong Ziyu and Young Master Yue exchanged palm strikes mid-air, a bracelet slipped from Young Master Yue’s clothing, falling to the ground with a clang. The two also stopped at the appropriate moment, withdrawing their moves and halting. Yun Weishan approached, holding a cloak, and casually picked up the bracelet that had fallen on the ground, her expression subtly changing.
Young Master Yue landed steadily and walked nonchalantly to Yun Weishan, reaching out to take the bracelet, “Thank you, Miss Yun.”
Gong Ziyu asked, “The Heart-Corroding Moon has been resolved, and our bodies have mostly recovered. It’s about time we return to the Front Mountain.”
“The Blade Master cannot leave yet.”
“Why?”
“When you passed the first trial, did you learn a set of the Three Snow-Brushing Forms?”
“Yes, and at the time, I was tricked into believing the Blade Technique Manual was at the bottom of the Frozen Pond, and I had to retrieve it.” Gong Ziyu recounted that experience as a joke.
“Although the first trial tested inner force, the true purpose was to impart the Three Snow-Brushing Forms. Without a solid foundation of inner force as support, it is impossible to master the Three Snow-Brushing Forms. Similarly, the Heart-Corroding Moon appears to test the skills of creating and countering poisons, but the key purpose is to allow the challenger’s internal strength to advance by leaps and bounds, in order to master the more profound blade techniques of the House of Gong.”
Gong Ziyu was somewhat surprised, “Do you also have a blade technique to teach me?”
“‘Three Moon-Slashing Forms’—starting with the New Moon, entangled in the Full Moon, and reaping with the Waning Moon.”Elder Yue said to Yun Weishan, "Miss Yun, please return to the Front Mountain first and bring the good news that the Blade Master has passed the trial."
Upon seeing the bracelet, Yun Weishan's tears unconsciously streamed down her face. Gong Ziyu noticed and asked in surprise, "Ah Yun, why are you crying?"
Elder Yue comforted, "Miss Yun must be reluctant to part with you."
Gong Ziyu also felt somewhat reluctant. "You go back first. I'll return soon."
Yun Weishan nodded, saying with a touch of melancholy, "Countless longings, countless emotions, stepping out of the western pavilion to speak of them... Then I'll wait for you at Yu Manor."
The news of Gong Ziyu passing the trial realm had already reached Jue Manor. Jin Fu entered Gong Shangjue's room and reported to Gong Shangjue and Gong Yuanzhi inside, "Yun Weishan has returned to Yu Manor. It seems Young Master Yu has already passed through the Second Realm."
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