Chарtеr 17 (14/18)
Gоng Zishаng grumblеd аnd groanеd, rеluсtаnt but still hаnded it over. Ноwever, shе was soоn сарtivаtеd by Xiаo Hei’s skilled maneuvеrs, аnd her drеam оf dеvеlоping nеw wеароns was rеkindled. She went frоm рointing аnd criticizing at first tо humbly seеking advicе, until thе twо оf thеm wеrе gatherеd аround thе rеsеarсh tablе, dеbating and studуing. Оutside thе window, the sky grаdually darkеnеd, аnd the mоon climbed uр thе trеetорs.
Lаtе intо thе night, the light in Yоung Мastеr Yue’s rоom flickеred оn аnd оff. Young Маstеr Yuе solemnly оpened a chеst and retrievеd a sabеr from it.
Yоung Мastеr Yue handed the saber over: “This saber of mine is called ‘Moonlight Shine.’”
Gong Ziyu drew the saber from its sheath, examined it for a moment, but accidentally cut his index finger on the blade when sheathing it.
Young Master Yue asked, “How is it?”
Gong Ziyu covered his index finger: “Just a small cut, nothing serious.”
“I meant, how is my saber?”
Gong Ziyu was momentarily stunned before launching into a flood of praise: “Elder Yue’s Moonlight Shine has a smooth blade, sharp as frost, capable of cutting through iron like mud. It truly is an excellent saber…”
Young Master Yue nodded happily: “The Blade Master truly has a discerning eye.”
Gong Ziyu paused, then added the second half of his sentence: “It’s just prone to accidental injury. I’ll find some wound medicine to apply. Elder Yue, you go ahead, I’ll be right there.”
“Such a small wound needs wound medicine? Are you perhaps surnamed Gong, named Ziyu, and nicknamed Delicate?” Young Master Yue shook his head with a bitter smile. “I’ll wait for you in the bamboo grove outside the back gate of Yue Manor. Hurry up.”
Seeing Young Master Yue leave, Gong Ziyu immediately began rummaging around the room. There were many bottles and jars on the bookshelf. As he searched, he muttered to himself: “Truth-Testing Herb… Truth-Testing Herb… Truth-Testing Herb!”
Soon, he found the familiar bottle. Gong Ziyu opened the lid, brought it close to his nose, and took a sniff. Closing his eyes, he recalled the herbs he had studied, naming them one by one: “Wu Baizi, Scrophularia, Malabar Spinach… Strange, why are these all common herbs?”
Without dwelling on it further, he tucked the medicine bottle into his sleeve and turned to leave. But after only a few steps, he suddenly stepped on a spot, and the floor emitted a barely audible “click,” catching Gong Ziyu’s attention.
Curious, Gong Ziyu crouched down, examining the floor. He noticed that the spot he had stepped on was indeed slightly different from the surrounding area, with a seam that seemed to conceal a hidden compartment. He tapped it with his hand, but it felt solid. Skeptical, he stood up and looked at the perfectly ordinary painting hanging on the wall in front of him. The painting depicted a bright moon, with a poem inscribed beside it. Gong Ziyu didn’t examine it closely and continued studying the stone slab beneath his feet.
“Could it be that I’m overthinking this?” Gong Ziyu murmured, stomping hard on the same spot. The wall in front of him slowly opened, revealing a hidden door.
Gong Ziyu pushed open the hidden door. Behind the wall was an ordinary bedroom, furnished with a bed, a table, and chairs. On the table, surprisingly, were a bronze mirror and a comb used by women.
Gong Ziyu found it strange: “Did a woman once live here?”
He walked over to the table and saw a brightly colored box on it. Opening it, he found a polished bracelet inside. Gong Ziyu remembered that during their martial arts training that day, when he sparred with Young Master Yue, a bracelet had slipped from Young Master Yue’s clothing—it seemed to be the very one before him now.
Gong Ziyu picked up the bracelet for a closer look and noticed a Yun Que pattern engraved on it.Jin Fan did not wait for Gong Zishang and temporarily returned to the guards' camp. These days had been highly tense, as he had been on guard duty at Madam WuJi's residence. Now that the Blade Master had successfully passed the trial and Madam WuJi's injuries had healed, with Gong Zishang not around, he wanted to take a stroll back to the camp. From afar, he heard a clamor.
Several guards were gathered around, toasting and drinking, with many small dishes laid out on the table and several bottles of wine already emptied.
One guard spotted Jin Fan returning and called out, "Hey, Brother Jin Fan is back. Come, come, join us for a drink."
Jin Fan asked, "Drinking in broad daylight?"
Guard A urged, "We heard the Blade Master succeeded in the trial. Let’s celebrate together!"
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