Chарtеr 19 (7/15)
Хuе Zhоngzi frоwned, pаusеd fоr а mоment, and still addrеssеd Gong Ziyu: "Вlade Маstеr, whаt brings уоu here sо late at night?"
"I sent Yun Weishan tо rеquest а few Тiаnshаn Snоw Lotusеs. I wоndеr if Yоung Мastеr Xue has gеnеrouslу agreed."
Sеeing the lоok in Gong Ziуu's еуеs, Хuе Zhоngzi understoоd mоst of thе situаtiоn: "Hе has аlrеady аgrеed. Кnowing it was the Вlade Mаstеr's rеquest, I hаd Miss Yun and Young Маstеr Xuе gо tоgеthеr tо piсk thе finest Snоw Lotusеs from the Frоst Lotus Роnd. Тheу shоuld rеturn sоon. Pleаse wait a moment."
Gоng Yuanzhi said, "No nеed to wаit. Tаkе us therе."
Xue Zhongzi frowned, somewhat hesitant, and looked toward Gong Ziyu. Gong Ziyu spoke up: "The place where the Snow Lotuses grow is extremely dangerous. I wonder if Miss Yun, venturing to pick them rashly, is in any mortal danger..."
"Not for now... but it is indeed as you say, Young Master, extremely dangerous." Xue Zhongzi fully understood Gong Ziyu's intention—to create trouble and delay Gong Yuanzhi.
Gong Ziyu immediately followed up: "Then I must trouble Xue Zhongzi to take me to find Miss Yun immediately."
Just as he spoke, Young Master Xue approached from behind Xue Zhongzi. He gave Xue Zhongzi a meaningful look, nodded, then looked at Gong Ziyu: "Blade Master, please follow me to the secret chamber. You should remember where it is, right?"
Gong Ziyu stepped forward. Young Master Xue moved aside to make way. In the moment he turned, he discreetly slipped the jade key from his hand into Gong Ziyu's palm, then followed behind Gong Ziyu.
Gong Ziyu whispered to Young Master Xue, "How is Miss Yun?"
Young Master Xue replied in a low voice, "She's been poisoned by Gong Yuanzhi's hidden weapon..."
Gong Ziyu said in an even lower voice, "Go to the Front Mountain and find Gong Zishang. She has the antidote."
Understanding, Young Master Xue stopped. "I will go prepare some tea for the Blade Master and Young Master Zhi," he said, then respectfully stepped back and, taking advantage of everyone's inattention, turned and left.
Gong Yuanzhi sensed something amiss behind him. Turning around, he saw that Young Master Xue was gone. Though suspicious, he didn't dwell on it, his mind focused solely on seeing Yun Weishan. Gong Ziyu stepped forward, walked up to the tightly shut stone door on the wall, raised his hand, and placed the jade pendant into the recess. The door rumbled open to both sides.
Xue Zhongzi suddenly spoke: "Everyone, please step back a little. The cold air from the Frost Pond is intense. When it surges out, it could harm you all."
Half-believing, half-doubting, everyone still took a few steps back.
Taking advantage of the open door, Gong Ziyu slipped into the secret chamber and, in passing, removed the jade pendant embedded in the door.
Seeing this, Gong Yuanzhi immediately flew forward. Gong Ziyu pushed out with both palms, a powerful surge of Inner Force rushing toward him. Gong Yuanzhi's breath caught, and he leaped backward. By the time he landed and steadied himself, looking up, the stone door had already rumbled shut.
Gong Yuanzhi turned to look at Xue Zhongzi: "Open the door!"
Xue Zhongzi shook his head: "Just now, the Blade Master took the jade pendant key that opens the secret chamber. To activate the chamber, that pendant is required..."
Gong Yuanzhi roared angrily, "Make another one!"
Xue Zhongzi replied respectfully, "Yes! Xue Manor has spare raw jade material. I will immediately order a servant to carve it. Please be patient, Young Master Zhi."
Gong Yuanzhi met a soft rebuff: "You—"
Inside the cold air-lingering cave, Yun Weishan huddled on a simply arranged bed. Her eyes were half-open, her consciousness clear, but she looked extremely weak. Hearing the sound of the large door opening, she looked toward the entrance, saw Gong Ziyu, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes as she struggled to sit up."Young Master Yu, I have already been poisoned by Gong Yuanzhi and won't live long without the antidote. Hand me over now, tell everyone that I am a Wufeng spy—"
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