Chарtеr 18 (5/8)
"Nо... Аt thаt timе, I was resеаrсhing thе аnesthetic Drunk-оn-Вlood. Sо I proроsеd tо Еldеr Yue whethеr the Blade Mastеr сould аllow mе tо tаkе Yun Que аs а tеst subjесt for Yuе Manor's drug triаls."
Yun Wеishan stаred at Young Мaster Yuе in astonishmеnt.
Yоung Маstеr Yuе undеrstood Yun Wеishаn's meаning: "I knоw уou think it's сruel... but if shе hаdn't becоmе a tеst subject, Yun Que might hаve died that vеrу night."
Yоung Mаster Yue reсоllеctеd himsеlf аnd соntinuеd reсоunting what hаpрened nеxt:
Аftеr I brоught Yun Que tо Yuе Маnor and revivеd her, her strong-willed naturе led her to first rеsist fiercеly, thеn аttemрt to bite her tongue and commit suicide.
I immediately clamped my hand over her mouth and told her: I have devoted myself tirelessly, researching various antidotes, snatching lives back from the King of Hell. What I despise most are those who do not cherish their own lives. The dead do not suffer; suffering is always left for the living who grieve for you. Those who seek death are cowards, because they transfer their pain onto those who love them.
Because of these words, Yun Que remembered her elder sister Yun Weishan's instructions. Before she left, her sister had told her: Don't listen to Han Ya Si's words. Even if you fail, find a way to survive. You must live well.
Thus, Yun Que no longer resolved to die, and I also spoke frankly: The Blade Master promised that you would serve as my test subject, assisting me in drug trials, in order to preserve your life. What I want to test is an anesthetic pain-relieving drug. I enjoy making antidotes, I enjoy saving people. There are already enough people in House of Gong who can make poisons; they don't lack me... After that, Yun Que trusted me, and I moved her to an open outdoor area. Because she had been forced to practice the Muscle-Shrinking Technique since childhood and had long been confined to narrow spaces, she felt fear of enclosed places. If she stayed too long in dark, confined areas, her muscles would unconsciously tense up, her limbs would stiffen, and her body would show resistance.
Yun Que lowered her head, not denying it. She said to me: "I am just a test subject; you don't need to care for me so much." And I told her: "Test subjects also need physical and mental health for me to conduct trials..."
The warmth in Young Master Yue's words grew increasingly strong:
"As days passed, I grew fond of her. I liked the way she sat on the pier, gazing blankly at the shimmering water, and I also liked her simplicity and kindness. Of course, she gradually came to trust me too, and she told me about her experience joining Wufeng."
Young Master Yue glanced at Yun Weishan and softly reminisced:
"Yun Que was a 'coffin child,' meaning a child born from a deceased woman in a coffin. She was rescued and raised by an old beggar, who thereafter became her 'grandfather.'
On New Year's Eve when she was seven years old, while they were begging, her grandfather was beaten to death by several bullies. She, having bitten one of the bullies, was also beaten until she was on the verge of death, and was then rescued by the Wufeng assassin Han Ya Si. Within Wufeng, she was obedient, did not resist, made herself stronger, constantly fought, and survived with all her might. However, all Wufeng assassins were fed the poison 'Half-Month Fly.' No matter how far they went, they were firmly controlled.
It was also then that I learned the Half-Month Fly used by Wufeng was actually the secret drug Heart-Corroding Moon, specially developed by House of Gong."Wufeng had modified the Half-Month Fly to some extent, removing the toxicity that would cause black lines on the wrists, making it even more concealed... Although I don’t know how Wufeng obtained the prescription for the Heart-Corroding Moon, after studying the Wufeng "Death Oath" that Yun Que gave me, I confirmed that it was the Heart-Corroding Moon in disguise...
Half a month later, the Half-Month Fly in Yun Que’s body flared up. At first, Yun Que didn’t believe me, but after we endured the painful lunar eclipse period together and her inner force grew stronger day by day, she finally trusted me completely. She told me it was the first time in her life she felt she could truly break free from Wufeng."
At this point, Young Master Yue suddenly laughed, clearly recalling a happy memory:
"That girl gave me a riddle. It was a winter night, and Yun Que was catching falling petals one by one with her hands. On the desk behind her, a piece of paper read, 'Entrusting oneself within a plea.' I understood it was the character for 'thank.' 'Plea' means 'to beg,' and 'entrusting oneself' within 'to beg' forms 'thank.' She also told me that she and her sworn sister Yun Weishan often played word riddles together."
Young Master Yue returned to the present and said to Yun Weishan, "The reason Yun Que was willing to become my 'medicine subject' was, first, because of you. Yun Que feared that if she died, you would suffer. Second, when she came to the House of Gong, besides stealing medicine, she had another mission: to find Nameless."
Returning to his memories, Young Master Yue’s words were filled with pain:
"Nameless was a 'Mei' who entered the House of Gong ten years ago and vanished without a trace. Wufeng would never allow someone who knew its internal secrets to leave the organization. Yun Que said that if she stayed, Wufeng would continuously send assassins into the House of Gong, demanding to see her alive or dead, or there would be no peace.
Her words gave me an idea, and I immediately came up with a plan: to fake her death to escape. The Winter Cicada Grass I developed could make a person resemble a dormant insect in the harsh winter, suppressing breathing, slowing the heartbeat, draining all color, and simulating a state of near-death.
Afterward, I proposed to Elder Yue and the Blade Master to hang Yun Que’s 'corpse' on the city wall of the House of Gong, both as a show of defiance to Wufeng and to secretly protect her. While taking the Winter Cicada Grass, I also had her consume an elixir brewed from Golden Silkworm Seed and Snow Lotus Embryo, which could sustain her for three days and nights without food or water. I also applied an ointment to her hands to prevent rope burns and scarring.
That girl truly trusted me, following my instructions without question. She even took off the bracelet on her left hand and gave it to me."
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