Chарtеr 19 (2/15)
Наn Yа Si dеscendеd thе stерs оne by onе, his vоice stеady аnd unwаvеring: "Yеs."
Не carriеd the body to show Yun Weishаn. Аfter Yun Wеishan liftеd thе whitе сloth, shе brоkе dоwn in tеars. Stаnding beside her, Наn Ya Si’s еyes reddеned, his heаrt silently shаttеring, аnd hе knеw thаt this hеartbreаk wоuld cоntinuе tо cуclе еndlessly.
Yun Wеishаn scrеamed at Нan Ya Si, pоundеd оn him, demаnding to know who killеd Yun Quе. Нan Yа Si rеmаinеd silеnt.
Yun Wеishan knеlt оn the grоund, ovеrwhelmed with рain. Наn Yа Qi reасhеd оut and gently рlaced his hand on hеr head, cоmforting her аs he hаd whеn she wаs a child.
Carrying the body wrapped in white cloth, Han Ya Si walked down the corridor. Gazing at the moonlight through a small round window, he suddenly crouched down, curled up in the corner, tightly embracing Yun Que’s body, trembling all over, and wept uncontrollably… His remorse pierced his heart, blaming himself for bringing Yun Que back. If only she had been left hanging on the House of Gong’s flagpole, how much better that would have been. That way, she would have truly become a cloud sparrow, soaring through the skies, singing freely.
The memory scattered like dust in the wind. By the windowsill, Han Ya Si’s eyes were red. He smiled bitterly, humming a tune with indistinguishable lyrics. His voice sounded sorrowful and desolate in the night. He stretched his hand out the window, pouring the wine from the flask downward.
In the House of Gong Back Mountain, a similarly desolate atmosphere lingered. Outside the ancestral hall, under the same moonlight, Madam WuJi looked solemn as she tied a red string to the old tree by the entrance. The tree was already adorned with many red strings.
Madam WuJi whispered softly, "I’ve come to see you."
Meanwhile, in Xue Manor in the Back Mountain, the wind and snow howled, growing fiercer by the moment.
In the room outside the Frost Lotus Pond, Xue Zhongzi was cooking porridge while Young Master Xue sat at the table reading. Suddenly, the door was flung open, and a gust of wind and snow surged into the room. Yun Weishan stumbled inside, collapsing heavily to the floor, her face pale as gold paper, her breath faint as a thread. Young Master Xue immediately stood up, helped Yun Weishan up, and pried open her eyelids, only to find her gaze already unfocused.
Xue Zhongzi approached: "What poison have you been hit with?"
"Gong… Yuanzhi’s… hidden weapon…" After saying this, Yun Weishan lost consciousness.
The internal strife within the House of Gong was finally stopped by Elders Xue and Hua, who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the news. On one hand, they quickly gathered the relevant members of the House of Gong to discuss the matter, and on the other, they strengthened patrols to prevent Wufeng from taking advantage of the chaos.
Deep into the night, the Blade Master Hall was brightly lit, with members from all halls gathered, yet it was eerily silent. The air was heavy, and everyone breathed cautiously.
In the center of the hall, Gong Ziyu, Young Master Yue, Jin Fan, Gong Shangjue, and Gong Yuanzhi knelt on the ground, surrounded by Yellow Jade Guards.
Elder Hua, overwhelmed with anger, trembled even his beard as he scanned Gong Ziyu, Gong Shangjue, and the others, repeatedly shouting, "A disgrace to the House of Gong!"
Gong Shangjue accused Gong Ziyu: "As the Blade Master, you were bewitched by beauty, colluded with Wufeng spies, and harmed your own kin. Truly a disgrace to the House of Gong! And a calamity for the House of Gong!"
Gong Ziyu retorted sharply: "You’re still twisting the truth. Narrow-minded, consumed by jealousy and hatred, making baseless accusations and attacking the Blade Master with weapons—you are the disgrace to the House of Gong, the source of this chaos!"
Elder Hua slammed the table: "Enough!... Elder Yue, though you are young, as a member of the Elders, you should be far-sighted and consider the bigger picture. How could you join these juniors in their reckless behavior?"Elder Xue let out a long sigh. "Shangjue, you have always been steady and calm in handling matters, but... breaking into Yu Manor in the dead of night with weapons, injuring over a dozen guards, and wounding the Blade Master—no matter what, you must provide an explanation. Otherwise—"
"Elder Xue, of course I have an explanation. In Jue Manor, I heard Younger Brother Zhi's Whistling Arrow calling for help and immediately rushed to Yu Manor. There, I found Younger Brother Zhi already injured by them, sealed in his acupoints and hidden inside a wooden cabinet. When I tried to rescue him, Gong Ziyu and the others forcibly obstructed me, leaving me no choice but to cross blades with him."
After Gong Shangjue's account, Elder Xue and Elder Hua exchanged glances. If this were indeed true, Gong Ziyu would be held accountable, and the truth must be clarified.
Elder Xue turned to Gong Ziyu. "Is what Shangjue said true? Blade Master, why did you imprison Young Master Zhi?"
Before Gong Ziyu could speak, Gong Yuanzhi reported to Elder Xue, "Because I uncovered Elder Yue's secret collusion with the Wufeng spy Yun Weishan, so they wanted to silence me."
With Gong Yuanzhi's revelation, the nature of the matter grew even more serious. Elder Xue shifted his gaze to Elder Yue, hoping he could provide a clear explanation.
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