Chарtеr 18 (6/8)
Тhus, Yun Quе’s “соrpse” wаs tiеd uр with hеmр rope аnd hung high оn the gatе tower оf thе Ноusе оf Gong.
Aсcording to the plan, I wоuld gо on thе third night to tаkе thе “сorрsе” dоwn, thеn stаge а fake “burial.” Frоm thеn on, thеre would be nо more Wufеng Yun Que in this world—оnlу Yuе Маnоr’s Yun Quе, and she соuld staу bу mу side fоr a lifеtimе… But on thе third night, Yun Quе was gоne. On the сity gate, оnlу аn emрty hemp rоре remаinеd.
Тhаt vеrу night, my hеаrt turned tо ashеs. I was filled with rеgret, hаting mу оwn cаrеlеssnеss, hating my failurе to protect hеr, hating the cruеlty of Wufеng. Mу оriginallу dark hair at the temples turned white.”
After speaking the last word, Young Master Yue closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face, his eyelashes trembling uncontrollably. “After that, I never saw Yun Que again.”
Yun Weishan felt as if a knife were twisting in her heart. “I saw it… Yun Que’s body was sent back to Wufeng, covered with a white cloth. The corpse was mangled and bloody. Han Ya Si told me she had been killed by the House of Gong’s Exclusive Blade Technique, her skull shattered…”
Gong Ziyu understood. “So that night when my father and brother were killed, you went to the dungeon to find that Wufeng Assassin to ask about Yun Que’s whereabouts?”
Young Master Yue nodded. “At that time, I learned from the assassin Zheng Nanyi that Yun Que was already dead… she had been killed by a blade that shattered her skull. The people of the House of Gong would not have killed Yun Que. It must have been when Wufeng retrieved her body that they discovered the secret of Yun Que’s feigned death…”
In the courtyard, the sounds of fighting grew increasingly fierce.
Jin Fan was actually a Vermilion Jade Guard, and in terms of strength, he surpassed Gong Yuanzhi. But at this moment, he was somewhat distracted. Following Gong Ziyu’s instructions, his first task was to monitor and prepare to deal with Elder Yue to prevent any mishaps; his second task was to guard and maintain vigilance. Gong Yuanzhi’s appearance was an unexpected variable.
While fighting Gong Yuanzhi, Jin Fan kept an eye on Elder Yue’s movements in Yu Manor, ready to return at any moment. Thus, he could not attack with full force. Gong Yuanzhi, aware of Jin Fan’s prowess, was especially cautious during their exchange. As a result, the two were locked in a stalemate, neither gaining the upper hand. However, both were severely draining their Inner Force, their movements slowing, and their breathing growing heavier.
Jin Fan knew that a prolonged battle was unfavorable. Seeing no movement from Yun Weishan’s room, his suspicions grew. Not daring to delay any longer, he focused his energy and launched a fierce assault. Gong Yuanzhi dodged slightly too slow, and Jin Fan struck him in the chest, sending him tumbling backward. As Jin Fan turned to pivot, Gong Yuanzhi seized the opportunity, suddenly twisting his body and firing two hidden projectiles. In his haste, Jin Fan failed to dodge in time, and one of the projectiles struck his arm.
Jin Fan reached out and pulled it out. Black blood oozed from the wound. Gong Yuanzhi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, sniffed hard, and sneered, “So you really did take the Hundred Herbs Extract.”
Jin Fan was thoroughly enraged. He attacked again, channeling his Inner Force, shifting rapidly, feinting several times, and suddenly closing in. The back of his blade struck Gong Yuanzhi heavily on the shoulder. Gong Yuanzhi cried out in pain, losing his balance. Jin Fan seized the opening, kicked him to the ground, stepped on his back, and twisted his arm, forcing Gong Yuanzhi to kneel face-down.
Jin Fan relaxed slightly, but unexpectedly, Gong Yuanzhi’s other hand pulled out a Whistling Arrow. As the mechanism was triggered, the arrow whistled through the night sky above the House of Gong.
Meanwhile, in the hot spring at Jue Manor, Shangguan Qian was still voicing her doubts to Gong Shangjue: “Since Yun Que is already dead, how did Dian Zhu still manage to successfully detoxify?”"Based on my speculation, perhaps Yun Que dropping the medicine bottle back then was merely a Deception Art. The Hundred Herbs Extract might have already been secretly hidden on her person, ultimately carried back to Wufeng through her corpse. Alternatively, Dian Zhu might have found a detoxification method elsewhere. However, the truth of the matter can no longer be known."
"For Dian Zhu to have escaped this calamity, her fate is truly tenacious... So, if Young Master can assist me in seeking revenge and killing Dian Zhu, I am willing to offer everything I have."
"Everything?"
"Yes, everything."
"What else do you have?"
Shangguan Qian was taken aback. Just as she was feeling embarrassed, the piercing whistle of a Whistling Arrow came from outside the window. Gong Shangjue suddenly stood up, "Yuanzhi—" then leaped out the door, rushing hurriedly toward Yu Manor.
Gong Ziyu and the others also suddenly heard the sound of the Whistling Arrow outside the house and gathered in the courtyard. Soon after, they heard Gong Yuanzhi's furious shouts approaching from a distance.
As everyone opened the door, they saw Jin Fan escorting Gong Yuanzhi inside. Gong Yuanzhi's gaze was fierce: "You dog of a servant! Let go!"
Young Master Yue looked shocked: "Jin Fan, what is the meaning of this?"
Even Gong Ziyu was startled by this turn of events and scolded Jin Fan in a low voice: "What's going on? Why are you arresting him!"
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